Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman knew immediately something was wrong after taking a hit in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars. While crossing the blue line after releasing the puck, Stars forward Mason Marchment delivered a glancing blow in the neutral zone. Hyman dropped his stick and went straight to the locker room, favouring his right arm.
The injury turned out to be season-ending. Hyman, a vital contributor to the Oilers` playoff run, will unfortunately miss the Stanley Cup Final rematch against the Florida Panthers. He confirmed the injury involved a dislocated wrist, torn ligaments, and bone breaks, speaking to reporters while wearing a cast on his right arm.
The 32-year-old described the moment his season ended: “I just felt my wrist kind of go on me… even then you still think… you`ll be able to play through it.” However, after consulting doctors and undergoing surgery, he quickly realized the severity. “It`s something that needed surgery and something that I wasn`t going to be able to play through,” Hyman stated, admitting he remained “delusional” about playing until after the procedure. He described the period as emotional, saying, “I don`t think I fully grasped it until later… Some things in life you can`t control, and this is one of them.”
Following his surgery, Hyman was deeply touched when his teammates FaceTimed him from the visitors` locker room in Dallas after winning Game 5 to secure their spot in the Final. “It meant the world,” he shared, adding, “I was crying. It was really emotional. You just feel so much a part of the team. For them to do that in that moment meant a lot.” He anticipates being ready to return for training camp in September.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the team will feel Hyman`s absence both on and off the ice. “We`re just going to have to move on,” he said. “We`re going to need other guys to step up, whether that`s scoring goals or making hits, making plays.”
Hyman mentioned that superstar captain Connor McDavid was the first teammate to console him after the injury. “You`re heartbroken,” Hyman recalled, explaining that McDavid`s hug caused him to “break down.”
While the Oilers enjoyed relative health during their run to the final last season, this year saw injuries impact key players late in the schedule, including McDavid, Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and Mattias Ekholm. Despite the personal setback, Hyman remains supportive, recalling his message to teammates after their Game 7 loss last year where he promised they`d return. They did, and though he can`t play, he`s cheering them on, noting the team`s resilience: “Our team this year has been the ultimate example of a team… Looking forward to cheering the guys on. We`re here and we`re ready.”
Tristan Blackwood