Zach Hyman and what true leadership looks like

Zach Hyman isn’t wearing a letter on his jersey (yet). He’s not the one giving postgame speeches or handling media responsibilities when things go wrong. But what he brings to the Edmonton Oilers goes beyond any official leadership designation. It’s the kind of leadership that shows up in how other players compete when he’s in the lineup.

Let’s start with Carolina. Hyman returned after missing 19 games, led the team with 11 hits in his season debut, and suddenly the entire roster played with an intensity that’s been missing all year. That’s not a coincidence. That’s what happens when a player leads by example in ways that force everyone else to match his standard.

Leadership isn’t always about words. Sometimes it’s about setting a tone that makes it uncomfortable for teammates to give anything less than full effort. Hyman does that every shift. He goes to the net. He battles in corners. He takes punishment in front of goalies. He does the work that nobody wants to do but everyone knows needs doing.

“We weren’t exactly sure what to get from him in his first game, but he looked like what we’re used to,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He picked up right where he left off, the way he was playing in the playoffs.

“He told me his legs are feeling great. Playing 23 minutes is not an easy task for a guy who hadn’t played in seven months.”

When your teammate comes back from five and a half months off and immediately throws 11 hits, that sends a message to the locker room. If Hyman’s willing to play like that in his first game back, what excuse does anyone else have for not matching that intensity? That’s leadership—raising the standard without saying a word about it.

Connor McDavid plays differently when Hyman is on his wing. He drives to the net more. He’s more aggressive in traffic. He knows Hyman will be there battling for rebounds and creating chaos that opens up space. That confidence changes how McDavid approaches the game.

Leon Draisaitl benefits from having a player like Hyman in the lineup even when they’re not on the same line. The opposing team’s attention gets divided. If you focus too much on McDavid’s line because Hyman is creating problems there, Draisaitl’s line takes advantage. If you shift attention to Draisaitl, McDavid, and Hyman exploit it. That dynamic only works when both lines have players who demand attention through their work rate.

The depth players feed off it, too. When they see Hyman—a proven 50-goal scorer who’s making millions—doing the dirty work without complaint, it sets the expectation for everyone else. You can’t coast on a team where one of your most talented players is also one of your hardest workers. That accountability gets built into the culture when leadership comes through actions rather than just words.

“It’s just great to see him,” added McDavid. “Great to see him playing despite a significant injury, and I got to see him work his way back, and it wasn’t always easy. It never is.

“Sometimes people forget the human side of it. It’s an emotional thing to go through a significant injury like that, so to see him back and playing and healthy and moving really well, it’s definitely uplifting for our group.”

Hyman’s leadership style fits perfectly with what this Oilers team needs. They have McDavid and Draisaitl handling the offensive brilliance and public-facing leadership. They have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins providing veteran steadiness and adaptability. What they need from Hyman is exactly what he provides—a gamer with a willingness to sacrifice his body for the team’s success.

The leadership also shows in the little things. The way he communicates on the ice. The way he celebrates teammates’ goals. The way he picks guys up after mistakes instead of showing frustration. Hyman played in Toronto for years before coming to Edmonton—he knows what it’s like to play under intense media scrutiny and pressure. That experience helps younger players navigate the ups and downs of a long season.

What makes Hyman’s leadership particularly valuable is that it’s consistent. He doesn’t bring intensity for important games and disappears for less meaningful ones. He doesn’t cherry-pick when to compete. Every shift gets the same effort, whether it’s Game 1 or Game 82, whether the team is winning or losing, whether he’s feeling great or dealing with nagging injuries.

That consistency matters more than flash or vocal leadership. Players watch what their teammates do more than what they say. When Hyman shows up every single night willing to do the dirty work, it creates accountability throughout the lineup. Nobody wants to be the guy who’s not matching his competitive level.

Here’s what Oilers fans need to understand: Zach Hyman’s leadership isn’t about wearing a letter or making speeches. It’s about showing up every single night and doing the work that winning hockey requires. It’s about setting a standard through actions that makes it impossible for teammates to justify giving less than full effort.

Saturday night in Carolina, Hyman laid 11 hits in his season debut after missing five and a half months. The Oilers won playing with more intensity and purpose than they’ve shown all year. Those two things aren’t separate stories. That’s leadership. That’s what Zach Hyman brings to this team that no one else can replicate.

The Oilers have talent. They have superstars. They have experience. What they’ve needed is someone who leads by example in the unglamorous work that separates good teams from great ones. Hyman provides that every single shift, and the effect on everyone else is undeniable.

That’s worth more than not wearing an A (yet).