Zach Hyman has spent the last three seasons playing in the Toronto Maple Leafs top six, but that could change this season.
On the first day of training camp, Zach Hyman appears to be on the third line with Alexander Kerfoot and Jimmy Vesey. He also appears to have switched from left wing to right wing.
Last season, Hyman was the left winger on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, but the addition of Joe Thornton seems to have somewhat diminished Hyman’s role, though it’s important to note that lines that the coach (known for switching his lines often) announces on the first day of training camp are certainly not set in stone.
This season is a contract year for Hyman, so the demotion could impact him come negotiation time this summer.
A Look At The Toronto Maple Leafs New 3rd Line
When the Leafs acquired Thornton, most people felt that he would play on the third or fourth line, so it was quite surprising when Keefe announced that he’d start with Matthews and Marner on the top line.
As for now, Kerfoot is still the 3rd line center, with Hyman on his right and Jimmy Vesey on his left. I think that could be a solid 3rd line for the Maple Leafs to use this season.
I don’t think Vesey is a lock, but since he would likely be lost on waivers if moved to the taxi squad, the Leafs will have to give him a look ahead of players (like Engvall, Barabanov and Robertson) who do not need to clear waivers.
The biggest thing that Hyman will notice is a drop in ice time. He will be going from top-line minutes (19:06 last season) to 3rd line minutes (14 – 15 minutes). The only way Hyman will be able to remain close to his previous minutes is by being on the Penalty Kill as well.
This year is a contract year for Hyman, and the demotion will surely put a dent in his stats. Fewer minutes in a shortened season could hurt Hyman’s bottom line when it comes time to negotiate his next contract.
Hyman has just come off having back to back 21 goal seasons, playing with either Matthews or Tavares on the team’s top six. Playing fewer games with less ice time could see Hyman have his lowest goal total since the 10 goals he had in the 2016-17 season.
(Stats from hockey-reference.com).
This might be how the Toronto Maple Leafs start the season, but I don’t see Hyman being on the 3rd line permanently. With such a condensed schedule that features seven sets of back to back games, I think we’ll see plenty of players moving up and down throughout the lineup. We also have to remember that this is still just a training camp, and a lot can change by opening night.