Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman Is a Star, and That’s OK

Ex Toronto Maple Leafs player Zach Hyman is a star, and that’s OK.

As the 2020-21 season was coming to an end, long-time  Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman was approaching free agency and there were hopes that the club was going to be able to bring him back.

Hyman was in the midst of his best season when it came to points per game as he had 33 points in 43 games, which would have put him on pace for his first 60+ point season in a full 82 game season.

Unfortunately, Hyman took a serious knee injury late in the year, which caused him to miss the final 13 games of the regular season.  This was the second knee injury the University of Michigan graduate sustained as he required surgery to repair a torn ACL two years prior.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Zach Hyman

Hyman was able to get back into the line-up for the playoffs, however was able to record just one goal in the seven-game series with the Montreal Canadiens despite earning nearly 23 minutes of ice-time.  At the conclusion of the playoffs, there was still a glimmer of hope the club could re-sign the soon to be 29-year old, however several factors came into play that would negate that chance.

The first factor is that the Leafs have made it pretty clear for the entire Brendan Shanahan Era that they are reluctant to sign mid-range players to money and term, as seen previously with Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnston and, especially, Freddie Andersen.

Secondly, was that there were a lot of rumours that the Edmonton Oilers were willing to go more than $5M per season on a long-term contract.  The third factor, was that although Hyman was a fan favorite and appeared to be well liked in the dressing room, the term and salary was very risky for a player coming off two serious knee injuries.

The fourth factor was that the Toronto Maple Leafs had run into some cap troubles due to the unexpected flat cap caused by the pandemic.

With all those obstacles, Hyman signed a seven-year deal worth $5.5M per year with the Edmonton Oilers that would pay him until he was 35 years old.  When the contract was signed I felt that if Hyman was healthy and continued to play the way he did in Toronto, he would be worth the contract.

The big question though was whether he was going to be the same Hyman after the multiple injuries.  If healthy, not only could Hyman score 25-goals, but his work ethic could be contagious.  I believe it was Steve Dangle that would say in his fan reaction videos that you could throw a puck in a dumpster in Germany and Hyman could go find it for you.

In his first season with the Oilers, Hyman set personal best in goals, assists and points.  Once the playoffs came around, he got even better and collected 11 goals and 16 points in 16 games.

The Toronto native looked like he has gotten even better this season as he is again setting personal bests in offensive categories and is flirting with reaching 100-points.  Whether he gets selected to the game or not, Hyman has become an All-Star caliber of player.

It would have been great to bring Zach Hyman back to the Maple Leafs, but unfortunately the club couldn’t risk the limited cap space they had on a player who had two serious knee injuries over the previous two years.

This doesn’t mean that Toronto Maple Leafs fans can’t cheer him on.  Hyman gave everything he could during his six years in Toronto after the club acquired him from the Florida Panthers for a conditional pick and Greg McKegg.