Zach Hyman was not initially expected to travel with the Edmonton Oilers on their road trip this weekend, but circumstances have changed. The forward will be joining the team as they head to Utah and potentially beyond, with head coach Kris Knoblauch indicating that Hyman may even play. This is a positive and surprising turn of events.
The Oilers are closely tracking Hyman’s condition as he aims to recover from an undisclosed injury. He sustained the injury during a collision with defenseman Nick Jensen in a game against the Ottawa Senators on November 19 and has missed the last two games, although he recently returned to practice.
Hyman expressed his frustration with being sidelined but remains hopeful about his recovery. “I’m feeling alright,” he said after practice on Thursday. “I don’t have a timeline, but I’m going on the trip and taking it day by day.”
Knoblauch offered some optimism about Hyman’s potential availability during the upcoming three-game road trip, stating, “He’s been going through the steps. He’s feeling much better, and there’s a chance he’ll play.”
Hyman’s Return Would Be Significant for the Oilers
The Oilers kick off their road trip on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club, followed by consecutive games against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. Hyman’s potential return could significantly strengthen an Oilers team that has a 1-1-0 record without him, including a solid 6-2 win over the New York Rangers.
The team’s power play is still developing and has underperformed compared to expectations, and Hyman plays a crucial role in its success.
Hyman has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 20 games this season, a slower start compared to his career-high 77 points last year. He was starting to produce before his untimely injury. He badly wants to get back on the ice and back to producing at a level the Oilers have grown to expect from him.
“Like any player, I don’t like missing games,” Hyman said. “I love playing hockey and being out there with the guys. It’s out of my control, but I’m hoping to get better day by day.”
With the Oilers aiming to build momentum on this road trip and hopefully separate themselves from teams outside the playoff picture looking in, Hyman’s potential return could be a significant boost. There is a lot of talk about the team needing to make a move, but wanting to wait. That’s only possible if they string some victories together. Hyman helps them do that. It’s a lot harder when he’s not on the ice.
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