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The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Not Trade Zach Hyman

By Reuben Gasee

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 19: Cody Glass #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights reacts as Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a third-period power-play goal by his teammate Zach Hyman #11 (not pictured) during their game at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 19: Cody Glass #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights reacts as Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a third-period power-play goal by his teammate Zach Hyman #11 (not pictured) during their game at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Zach Hyman is a player the Toronto Maple Leafs need on their roster

With four consecutive early playoff exits, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make some changes to avoid this from happening for a fifth straight year. In order to make changes, trades have to happen, especially for this Leafs team that is tight against the cap.

They already brokered one trade by shipping Kasperi Kapanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a six-player deal that also included the Leafs getting a first-round pick. This move though is expected to be the first of multiple to come.

With trades and changes regarding the Leafs being all talk right now, names are just being thrown out there in regards to who the team should move. While there are multiple guys that could see themselves shipped out of Toronto, one of them should not be Zach Hyman.

Toronto Maple Leafs Options

While by no means an all-star, Hyman is a valuable asset to the Leafs. In 302 career games all spent with Toronto, Hyman has 152 points (71 goals and 81 assists)(stats via nhl.com).

His best season was last year where he registered 41 points in 71 games but he was on pace for a career-year with 21 goals (tied career-high) and 16 assists for a total of 37 points in 51 games  until the Coronavirus postponed the season.

Typically, Hyman plays on the first line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. While obviously the weaker player of the three, he makes Matthews and Marner much better players and brings out the best in them. If the Leafs didn’t have Hyman playing alongside these two superstars, Matthews and Marner wouldn’t be able to put up the production they currently do.

While Hyman will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, he’s only owed $2.5 million for the upcoming season. Kyle Dubas will need to do everything in his power to keep Hyman in a Leafs jersey for the future as he’s  a crucial piece to the success of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Hyman would also probably welcome being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a long time. He grew up in Toronto and attended Community Hebrew Association of Toronto for his high school days.  I’m sure he’d love to be a Maple Leaf for life assuming he and the front office can work it out. At the very least, he needs to stay for one more season before his contract expires.

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