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Oilers Forward Reveals 'Emotional' Breakdown After Suffering Season-Ending Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 5:57 AM ET

As the Edmonton Oilers prepare for a rematch against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, they do so without one of their most reliable postseason performers.

Forward Zach Hyman, who sustained an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch hinted last week that Hyman’s season was "most likely done," something that ewas confirmed following the news about his surgery.

"Zach’s season is most likely done," Knoblauch said. "He’s getting surgery today and it’ll be a while, so we’re not expecting him back for the playoffs."

“The guys came over in intermission just to check up on me, that’s kind of what guys do when there’s a serious injury, and I kind of broke down.”@ZachHyman explains the moment he realized he was going to be out for the rest of the Oilers cup run. https://t.co/kKiDjVAReW pic.twitter.com/4qmHP6yvri
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 3, 2025

Speaking publicly for the first time since the injury while appearing on Episode 566 of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, Hyman described the experience as emotionally difficult.

"It’s hard," Hyman said. "I don’t know if I grasped it in the moment. I think in the moment you’re like ‘I can fight through it, whatever it is, I’ll be able to play.’ And then you quickly realize it was something that needed surgery."

Hyman revealed that reality set in during the intermission after the period in which he suffered the hit.

"I kind of broke down," Hyman said. "It was hard. I was emotional but at the same time you’re trying to keep it together because the guys have to go out there and win a period."

Hyman scored 11 points in 15 postseason games and led all playoff skaters with 111 hits after putting up 44 points in 73 regular-season games.

Hyman's teammates, including Evander Kane, have acknowldedged the impact of his absence while saying that the team has enough depth to make up for his absence.

Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton.

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

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