Zach Hyman was unable to join the Edmonton Oilers on their trip to Dallas for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals due to an injury but still celebrated the team’s victory from a distance. After sustaining an injury from a collision with Dallas Stars’ left winger Mason Marchment in Game 4, Hyman watched the game from home, recovering after surgery.
“I spent the day after surgery on the couch with my wife and mother-in-law,” Hyman shared with reporters before the Stanley Cup final. While the Oilers celebrated their Western Conference championship in the locker room wearing commemorative hats, they connected with Hyman via a video call, expressing how much they missed him and looked forward to seeing him in Edmonton.
Hyman admitted the surprise call was very emotional, saying, “It caught me off guard. I was crying because it made me feel like part of the team.” Although he is not on the ice, he remains mentally with his teammates.
Unfortunately, Hyman will not be playing in the finals. He explained the injury in more detail: “I felt my wrist give out, and I hoped I could play through it, but my wrist is dislocated with damage to ligaments and possibly fractures. I’m expected to return early next season but am focusing on rehabilitation right now.”
At 32 years old, Hyman has been an important player for the Oilers, recording five goals and six assists for 11 points over 15 playoff games this season. He played a crucial role in Game 3 against the Stars, scoring two goals and assisting another, which helped Edmonton take the series lead. During the regular season, he tallied 27 goals and 44 points in 73 games.
Oilers center Adam Henrique highlighted Hyman’s significance to the team: “He’s a major part of this team with his physical play, presence in front of the net, and influence in the locker room.”
As Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday at 8 pm, the Oilers are determined to improve on last year’s performance, where they lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. Even though Hyman will miss playing, Henrique emphasized, “He’s a great guy, and we’ll miss him on the ice, but he’ll be with us in spirit, and we’ll fight for him.”
— Reporting by Avry Lewis-McDougall
Fan Take: Zach Hyman’s injury is a tough blow for the Oilers, removing a key physical presence from their lineup just as they enter the Stanley Cup Final. For hockey fans, his absence underscores the brutal nature of the sport and highlights the depth and resilience teams must have to compete at the highest level.
