Relocating to the Edmonton Oilers in free agency in 2021 after spending time with the Toronto Maple Leafs was a simple choice, according to Zach Hyman.
Despite being a native of Toronto, Hyman signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Oilers following the Maple Leafs’ 2021 playoff elimination. Ahead of the Stanley Cup Final on June 7, Hyman told reporters that while the contract was somewhat unexpected, the decision was simple because Toronto didn’t want to bring him back. It is indeed simple when it isn’t your choice. For me, the choice was simple. As I’ve mentioned several times, we closed the book on Toronto, and my eyes immediately went to Edmonton. I think that was the best choice I’ve ever made,” Hyman told the press on June 7.
Hyman chose to go to Edmonton instead of the Maple Leafs after realizing they wouldn’t be able to get him back. Hyman claimed that the Oilers were both a great place for his family to live and offered him the best opportunity to win. I thought it would have the highest chance of winning, the team I thought I could help the most reach to this stage, and it was a place where I would fit in well personally, playing with incredible players, Hyman said.
The ultimate goal for my wife and myself, as well as our family, was to locate a place to live where we could expand our family, and Edmonton turned out to be such location. sacrificing myself to get to a location where I could win a Stanley Cup because that has always been my desire and my aim,” Hyman continued. Hyman, who scored 77 points this past season with 54 goals and 23 assists, has settled in well with Edmonton. With 18 points from 18 playoff games, the winger has 14 goals and 4 assists this postseason.
Hyman “Exceeded” what oilers had anticipated.
Hyman was expected to be a 20–25 goal scorer when he signed with the Oilers on July 28, 2021. Hyman’s career best of 21 goals with the Maple Leafs has been surpassed in each of his three Edmonton seasons. According to NHL.com, Oilers general manager Kenny Holland commented, “What he’s doing is pretty remarkable.” Simply glance at his stats. After all, we had high hopes of signing a player who would, at worst, score 20–30 goals annually when we signed him as a free agency in 2021 for a seven-year contract of $38.5 million, or $5.5 million per year. He has far, far, beyond fulfilled our most optimistic hopes. With 14, Hyman presently has four more points than teammate Leon Draisaitl to lead the NHL in playoff scoring.
GM of the Oilers explains why they singled out Hyman
In addition to wanting to sign with the Oilers in 2021, Hyman piqued Edmonton’s interest greatly. Holland claims that he and the Oilers front staff believed Hyman would be a valuable player who would not hesitate to play in the dirty areas or get into the corners in order to help the club score close to the goal. We selected Zach and Warren Foegele as objectives right away when I spoke with our team, Holland told NHL.com. “We felt Zach would be the best person to assist us in the cycle game and the dirty areas, where we needed assistance.” That is exactly what Hyman has accomplished, helping to guide the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals.
