Ken Holland made the best free-agent signing in Oilers history on this day in 2021

Four years sure do go by quickly.

It’s almost hard to believe that it’s been as long since the Edmonton Oilers and Zach Hyman signed a seven-year deal carrying a $5.5-million cap hit — but that’s probably because it’s felt like Hyman has been an Oiler for life.

Why? He’s a player who bleeds what turns Oilers fans into staunch supporters. His hard-working, never-take-a-shift-off, bring-your-lunch-pail, blue-collar style of play resonates with fans in Oil Country.

The contract undoubtedly looks like one of the best value deals in the entire league four years into it. He’s scored 144 goals, 114 assists and 258 points in 308 regular-season games, and another 35 goals and 60 points in 68 games.

He’s 17th in regular-season goal scoring and second in playoff goal scoring over that time, helping push the Oilers deep into the playoffs in nearly every run. Not only has he found himself looked to as a leader on this team, but he’s found himself a home, embracing the City of Edmonton and letting the City embrace him, too.

Over the last four regular seasons, he’s played 4,626 minutes at five-on-five and a whopping 63 percent of his ice-time alongside Connor McDavid on the Oilers’ top line. It’s easy to see why, too, as the duo have been nothing short of dominant, controlling 59.1 percent of the shot attempt share, 60.7 percent of the scoring chance share and a staggering 61.8 percent of the expected goal share. All the while, they’ve outscored the opposition 204-124, controlling 62.2 percent of the goal share.

Yeah, they’re pretty good.

Hyman’s had big highs in his time in Edmonton, setting multiple career bests:

• Goals – 54, 2023-24
• Assists – 47, 2022-23
• Points – 83, 2022-23
• Even-strength goals – 39, 2023-24
• Power play goals – 15, 2022-23 and 2023-24
• Average time on ice – 20:09, 2022-23

His individual impact on the Oilers on-ice product has been significant. According to Hockey Viz, his overall impacts have increased from being a low-to-middle-end second-line player, climbing to impacting the game as a first-line player this season.

There’s no denying this past season ended in a massively disappointing way. Well on pace to not just break the NHL record for hits in a single post-season but smash it entirely, his playoff run ended prematurely in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Early in that game, then Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment found Hyman in the neutral zone, laying what seemed to be an innocuous hit. Right away Hyman lifted his arm and his stick hit the ice, skating quickly to the bench and down the tunnel. While there was hope that it was nothing more than a stinger, the Oilers got the worst news they could’ve, as he suffered a serious wrist injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the playoffs. The Oilers sorely missed him in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, but watching from the press box will surely motivate him heading into next season.

When the contract was signed, I opined that the deal was “a massive move that I think will pay off dividends for the Oilers down the road,” and that “if Edmonton is able to get five years strong years out of Hyman, I think this is a deal you can call a win for the team.”

Looking back, Hyman has greatly outperformed any expectations and not only can you call his signing a win for the team, it’s one you can call the best free agent signing in franchise history.