Oilers’ Zach Hyman done for the season, requires surgery

Edmonton’s heart-and-soul winger left Game 4 after only five shifts and 3:11 of ice time after a fly-by hit from Mason Marchment landed wrong. Hyman dropped his stick, his right shoulder visibly sagging, and made a beeline down the tunnel with trainer TD Forss in tow. From my seat in section 121 across from the Oilers’ bench, I kept an eye out for his return, but as the first period ticked on without a sign of him, it was clear that something was seriously wrong. On Wednesday morning, Kris Knoblauch confirmed the worst: Hyman’s done for the season and will need surgery to repair an upper-body injury.

Hyman’s been a force for the Oilers throughout this run, leading the NHL with 111 hits and chipping in 11 points (five goals, six assists) over 15 games. His relentless style of driving to the front of the net, battling for pucks, and scoring timely goals has been a huge part of the last few weeks, making his absence a massive blow in every possible way. The Oilers still hold a 3-1 series lead, but losing a guy who brings that kind of grit and leadership hurts badly, especially with another trip to the Stanley Cup Final in sight.

Viktor Arvidsson, who filled in for Connor Brown in Game 4, will need to step up in a big way. Through 10 playoffs games, Arvidsson has his one goal and three assists, and he’ll need to find a way to hit another gear. He’s a veteran with skill, but Hyman’s unique blend of physicality and scoring—evidenced by his 27 goals and 17 assists in 73 regular-season games—isn’t easily replaced. The team’s depth will be tested, with players like Kasperi Kapanen and Corey Perry stepping up last night to fill the void, but now we’ve got a whole new level of need.

As the Oilers head to Dallas for Game 5 with a chance to close out the series, the focus is on rallying without their wrecking ball in the lineup. Mattias Ekholm, practicing with the main group but has yet to play, could slot in if Kris Knoblauch decides to go 11/7, but for now, it’s about the next man up. It’s about finding out who can do what they can to fill the massive whole left by Hyman’s absence. While the Nation is still buzzing from the win, Hyman’s absence casts a major shadow on the evening. Here’s to the team digging deep and pushing forward. We’ve got another test on our hands, my friends, and now we’ll see how the rest of the club can respond.