Zach Hyman has never –– not even once – been the best player on his team. Or the fastest. Or the one with the most talent.
It didn’t matter: Hyman focused on the things he could control: the way he worked, a bottomless energy, a ardor that never seemed to leave him.
“I haven’t had the easiest journey,” said the Edmonton Oilers winger. Nobody saw me going to the next level. »
Not only has he progressed, he is now part of the NHL’s elite.
The Torontonian, 123e overall pick in 2010, marked his 50e goal of the season on Sunday, at 31 years old. He thus became the third oldest player in the league to reach this plateau for the first time.
“I just kept hitting small plateaus, kept working hard and always believed in myself,” Hyman said of his journey. The higher you climb the ranks, the more people there are who question your place there. »
His way of charging head first took him from Junior A in Ontario to the University of Michigan, where after making his way three by three, he was a finalist for the Hobey-Baker Trophy in 2015.
The Florida Panthers traded him to the Maple Leafs later that year, before his professional career began with the Toronto Marlies of the American League the following season.
Hyman made his NHL debut with the Leafs in February 2016. The work was far from over, but he worked hard again to carve out a niche alongside Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
The six-foot-one, 201-pound forward scored 21 times in 51 games with the Leafs before the 2019-20 season was shut down. He added 15 goals in 43 games in the shortened season before enjoying full free agency.
Hyman wanted to stay with the only NHL team he knew. But when the door closed for him in Toronto, his attention turned to Edmonton, where he signed a seven-year contract at an annual salary of US$5.5 million.
“Everyone goes through big changes in life,” Hyman philosophized. You need to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. »
The Oilers couldn’t be happier about this “uncomfortable situation.”
Hyman scored 27 and 36 goals in his first two seasons in Alberta, playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He took his game to another level in 2023-24.
For coach Kris Knoblauch, called in as reinforcements when the team was going nowhere, Hyman’s success is due more than to his teammates and the club’s high-quality numerical advantage.
“Zach does so many things well,” Knoblauch said. He’s good at controlling the puck and not giving it to the opponent, which allows Connor to make all those plays. But more importantly is his excellent work near the net. Whether it’s to deflect shots, gain that space, stand out. »
Hyman is also very popular in the locker room.
“He’s someone everyone looks to,” Knoblauch added. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been able to confirm everything I’ve heard about him. »
His play ensures that his name fuels rumors on the international scene, while the NHL 4 Nations Tournament will be played next February, before the league returns to the Olympic Games in 2026.
“Every player’s dream is to represent their country,” Hyman noted. If I am ever selected, it will be a special moment. »