Report: Oilers to sign Zach Hyman in sign-and-trade with Leafs

Zach Hyman John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Oilers to sign Zach Hyman to seven- or eight-year deal in sign-and-trade with Maple Leafs

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 7/22/21

Zach Hyman is set to move to Western Canada.

According to Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest, the Edmonton Oilers are working to execute a sign-and-trade agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Can confirm the Edmonton #Oilers have both 7 and 8 year contracts agreed to with Zach Hyman. EDM and TOR are working to execute a sign & trade which will pay Hyman 8 yrs. at around $5M. Salary comes in higher in middle of contract and includes some no move protection. #Leafs
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 22, 2021

Hyman is set to become an unrestricted free agent next week after completing a four-year, $9 million deal with the Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old has spent his entire career in Toronto, tallying 185 points (86 goals, 99 assists) in 345 games.

While the Maple Leafs would've liked to keep Hyman, they don't have the cap space to do so. According to CapFriendly, the team is projected to have a little more than $9.3 million in cap space this offseason to re-sign Frederik Andersen, Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, Alex Galchenyuk and Ben Hutton, among others.

Toronto's cap struggles can be attributed to the contracts of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, who each make at least $10.9 million per season. The Maple Leafs are the only team in the NHL with three players making at least $10 million per season, according to Spotrac.

In Edmonton, Hyman will join an offense that includes Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He'll be tasked with helping the Oilers reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.

The Oilers also recently added defenseman Duncan Keith in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

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