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Oilers Announce Official Return Date for Injured Zach Hyman

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 1:15 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers will start the 2025–26 season without one of their most reliable scorers and a big gap in their top forward line.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Thursday that he expects Zach Hyman to remain sidelined until at least November as the forward continues to recover from wrist surgery, leaving a major hole in Edmonton’s top six.

Knoblauch said that Hyman should be expected back around November 1, although the coach didn't commit to a set-in-stone date for his comeback.

“Zach will, unfortunately, not be able to join us for our home opener,” Knoblauch said. “We’re thinking, guideline, probably around November 1. So maybe a little bit earlier, maybe a little bit later, but around that timeline.”

Assuming he returns exactly on Nov. 1, Hyman would miss the first 12 games of the Oilers' season.

"There will be a lot of opportunities for guys to show us what they can do."

Coach Knoblauch provides an injury timeline update on Zach Hyman & shares his thoughts after Day 2 of #Oilers Training Camp. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ygFXJmqTPB
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 18, 2025

Hyman fractured his wrist and damaged ligaments on a hit from Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment during Game 4 of last spring’s Western Conference Final.

He underwent surgery the following day and missed the rest of the playoffs. Despite the setback, Hyman managed to score 11 points in 15 postseason games while setting a franchise record with 111 postseason hits before being forced out.

“Anytime you get hurt, whether it’s at the beginning of playoffs or midway through, or near the end like I did, it’s definitely disheartening,” Hyman said. “For me, I pretty much knew immediately that my season was over. You kind of flip your focus just to try to help the team in a different way, an emotional support way, and just being around the guys and being positive.”

The veteran forward, who scored 27 goals in 73 regular-season games last year, said on Wednesday that his recovery has gone well up to this point.

“For me, internally with the group, we have little two-week blocks, milestones, that we check off and that we hit,” Hyman said. “Right now, we are progressing very well.”

Edmonton will now need to decide how to fill his spot on Connor McDavid’s wing to open the season. At the first practice, 29-year-old David Tomasek skated in Hyman's place, while prospects Matthew Savoie and Ike Howard are also options.

Veteran Andrew Mangiapane could be another fallback, though he has never held a full-time top-line position, and he played on the opposite week on Day 1.

The Oilers open their season on October 8 against the Calgary Flames.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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