Kurt Leavins
Connor McDavid (97) of the Edmonton Oilers holds up Zach Hyman (11) of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021, in Toronto.Photo by Claus Andersen /Getty Images, file
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Zach Hyman is a free-agent target of the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, more than a target, Hyman may be Ken Hollands bullseye.
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I see Hyman as a very good fit for the Oilers specific situation. A large chunk of his time with the Leafs has been spent alongside elite players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner (he also played a lot with Ilya Mikheyev and Alex Kerfoot). And in those talented Toronto lineups Hyman produced well: Two 20-goal seasons (the 2nd in just 51 games) and he scored at a 23-goal pace in just 43 games this past campaign. Also, a positive contributor to the fancy stats, Hyman was a 52.1% CF 5v5 in 2020-21. He can put the puck in the net.
Zach Hyman doesnt have the flash of some of his current and (potentially) future Oilers teammates. But on a club often accused (and fairly so, I might add) of having too many of the same type of player Hyman would be one of these things thats not like the other in Edmonton. His skill comes along with an abundance of sandpaper and a nose for the tougher areas of the ice surface. And hes very good defensively. Very.
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Now, Hyman wont come cheap and already there are divided camps on how much is too much. But surely, we can all agree that if you are going to spend big dollars then whoever you get for that price should be able to play in all situations. If Hyman joins them in a regular shift, plus a Power Play and a PK, then you quickly start to recoup value on the dollar: A 20+ minute a night man who is on the ice in the final minute of a game whether you are a goal up or a goal down.
Now, Hyman isnt the best Left Wing available in the 2021 UFA class. 3 others would be ahead of him: Alexander Ovechkin, Gabriel Landeskog and Taylor Hall. Ovi will land in Washington or not at all. Hall is destined for Boston, if he hasnt already signed by the time this publishes. Landeskog is a terrific player that ticks almost every box but onehes reportedly seeking $9m/year. It sounds as if Hyman could land between $5.1-$5.5m. The more term, the less AAV. Dont like the term? Fair. But then expect to pay more.
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Now, if you read The Twitter, the faithful is split on Zach Hyman. A bit curious, that, considering a lot of this very same group is preoccupied with General Manager Ken Holland getting busy getting on with getting on: Connor McDavid has 5 years left on his deal, Leon Draisaitl 4. If now is not the time to spend a top dollar on a top complimentary winger for those guys, thenwhen IS it time?
One of the other common concerns is age. Zach Hyman is 29. We know that NHL players, especially ones that play a gritty physical style can start to dip when they approach 30. But not all of them do. Chris Kunitz was 29 when he joined the Penguins in 2008. Over the course of his stay he reeled off 4 consecutive 20-goal seasons including 35 in 2013-14 and was a part of 3 Stanley Cup Championships.
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Yeah, but Kunitz played with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, you say.
Uh-huh. And Hyman would play with McDavid and Draisaitl.
Still dont care for the comparison? O.k. Pat Maroon played with Connor McDavid in 2016-17. Scored 27 times. His next best (before or since)? 14. And look, no disrespect to The Big Rig. He has 3 cups of his own. But do you think Maroon is a better player than Hyman? Especially for the purpose the Oilers need him for. Dont you think Hyman could score 30 with 97 or 29?
The other thing Chris Kunitz has is an Olympic Gold medal. He in his 30s when he made that team. I understand that Hyman is already on a short-list of players to be invited to the Canadian program. Would a season on McDavids port side further lift his chances? Hard to think it wouldnt.
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Risk? Of course theres risk. There is with any contract. And the longer the term, the older the player, the greater the risk tends to become. Injury. Fall off in production, etc. After all, Zach Hyman could be 36 by the time this contract is up. The last couple years could become a problem.
But if you get a cup or 2 along the way, then wouldnt it have been be worth it? After all, what bloody good is it to stay cap friendly if you dont win while your best players are here?
Oh, and alsoat 36? Chris Kunitz went 17-23-40 in 80 GP.
Just sayin. Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins
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