To say that Zach Hyman is having an ordinary start to the season would be an understatement.
The Edmonton Oilers forward has only three goals in twenty games so far this season. At this rate, he will finish the campaign with twelve goals, which is far from the 54 goals last year.
In fact, even if we exclude his last season, the player from Toronto is really below his usual production since his arrival with the Oilers. He scored 27 and 36 goals in his first two campaigns with the team in 76 and 79 games respectively.
The Edmonton club must hope that their forward unlocks, because they could use a little more production on offense, because with the exception of their two star forwards, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, none count more than five goals or more than ten points.
This explains in particular why the club is having a fairly ordinary start to the season with 24 points in 22 games, good for fifth place in the Pacific Division, one point from a place in the playoffs.
For a team that many saw in the Stanley Cup final, it’s rather disappointing as a first quarter of the campaign.
And with just three goals, the Oilers are paying a lot for Hyman, who signed a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million with the club in the summer of 2021. Although his contract only counts for $5.5 million on the salary cap, the striker will receive 7.7 million this year. That’s an expensive goal!
In addition, his disappointing start to the season could cost him his place with the Canadian team for the 4 Nations Showdown. The one that many saw in the formation of Canada could well see his position slip away from him.
We can wonder if the leaders of the Canadian club will opt for Hyman’s natural chemistry with McDavid or if they will prefer a player with better statistics. We should know soon since the final formations should be announced within a few days.
However, it is possible that Hyman has been playing injured for a while since the Alberta club removed him from the lineup without providing further details on the nature of his injury.
However, his absence should not be long.
Could this injury explain his slow start to the season? And could she compromise her place for the 4 Nations Showdown?
In short, an interesting file to follow!
In burst
– Jiricek yes, but at what cost?
– Slaf back?
– In Hyman’s absence.
– Very funny!
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