In a way, Zach Hyman is the key cog for the next year's worth of Edmonton Oilers hockey.
Not Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Zach Hyman.
Hear me out.
Zach Hyman was one of the key voices that got head coach Mike Babcock into the Oilers' organization. He cited his ability to find places for players within his lineups, and he spoke quite positively of Babcock and his coaching even in the face of criticism and controversy.
But could Hyman be tying himself to the success of the sometimes-exaggerated bandwagon that is Babcock and his glowing-but-dated resume? Or is it the organization that is tying it's future to the success of said bandwagon? That's unknown.
But it sure makes for a good premise for another edition of The Mike Babcock Saga.
You heard me out, and I took your eyes and ears back to the return of one of hockey's longest active soap operas. I know that Dancing With the Stars is back for its 35th season, but with The Drought in Buffalo now over, only The Dallas Cowboys of the NHL could rival this series of epic proportions.
Why would Hyman's ties to Babcock's hire put his future with the Oilers in danger?
Let's consider Hyman's contract situation.
He's entering the penultimate season of his current contract, which he originally signed after leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs for Edmonton. That contract comes with a $5.5 million cap hit and it will take him up to the end of the 2027-28 campaign, by which point he would have already turned 36.
While Hyman might be well into his mid-30s, he is still putting together some strong statistical campaigns. Most recently, Hyman recorded 52 points in in 58 games played last season; the 31 goals scored represented a four-goal improvement from the 27 he recorded during the 2024-25 campaign. Hyman has also recorded a positive +/- rating in each of the last four seasons.
But not only does the increase in production seen since Hyman's arrival in Edmonton command a higher AAV, but given that the two top players on the planet also play their hockey in Edmonton, it also comes with the expectation of a Cup. So far, despite two shortcomings, that has not materialized. And one can argue that Hyman encouraged the Babcock hiring with the goal of building off their success in 2023-24 and 2024-25, specifically by finally lifting the Stanley Cup.
Say what you will about Babcock the person, but Hyman's intents are good-willed. As I established above, he's had positive experiences with Babcock in Toronto, and only a handful of coaches could rival what Babcock has achieved throughout his coaching career. And given Hyman's familiarity with Babcock, he could very well be motivated to pursue another 70+ point campaign, which would only help push the Oilers forward and, by extension, make the case for Babcock's success in Edmonton.
For even the biggest of Babcock opponents (myself included), the latter two statements are at least worth recognizing. Hyman surely knows this all too well, which is why he's willing to stake the Oilers' future on the lighter side of Babcock's reputation: his on-ice success.
Therefore, it might not necessarily be the hire itself that is going to define Hyman's future in Edmonton.
Rather, it's going to be how the organization as a whole responds now and in the future. So far, the reception seems to be somewhat positive.
But we haven't even played a minute of competitive hockey under Babcock's leadership, and training camp has only just started.
Once this team really gets going, we'll be able to properly evaluate the mood; what we could end up looking for in this case is how the players respond to Babcock's coaching and not the other way around. Past Babcock teams suggest that this Oilers roster will have to be able to defend aggressively and to leave opponents with no room to operate; they'll need to be fast, and they'll have to play two-way hockey for 60 minutes (perhaps longer on some occasions).
We know the Oilers will be fast, but defensive? That remains to be seen.
If Babcock's Oilers can't defend and start to lose motivation under a system that demands 110% and your passion for the game, that could send this team on a spiral that hurts their whole campaign. We've seen that Hyman represents a case where players succeed under Babcock's leadership, so one could argue there isn't much leeway when it comes to navigating individual or unit-wide shortcomings.
From that point, if any failed campaign falls on the Oilers' roster and The Mike Babcock Saga is, as a result, one and done in Edmonton, that could be enough to send Hyman and others out the door convinced that the Oilers are no closer to winning the Cup.
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