Oilers’ Zach Hyman expected to make season debut against Hurricanes
A highly anticipated return is on the horizon.
On Friday, the Edmonton Oilers placed defenseman Troy Stetcher on waivers, as well as sending forward Isaac Howard down to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. That opens up enough roster space for forward Zach Hyman to make his return to the lineup on Saturday night, when the Oilers face the Carolina Hurricanes.
Isaac Howard also being sent to AHL Bakersfield.
That means Zach Hyman makes his season debut tomorrow night. https://t.co/hWbypv5XAu
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch hinted at the potential of Hyman making his season debut on Saturday when speaking to the media prior to the team’s matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Knoblauch mentioned that Hyman “is very close” to returning, and that he expects No. 11 to play against Carolina.
The 33-year-old was placed on long-term injured reserve at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. Before training camp got underway, Knoblauch said the team hoped Hyman could return to action by November 1.
Hyman hasn’t played since suffering a wrist injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final last spring against the Dallas Stars. The ailment kept the Toronto native out for the rest of the series, as well as the Stanley Cup Final. His absence was noticeable, as the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers for the second year in a row.
Hyman’s impact on the Oilers roster has been palpable, and his not being in the lineup so far this year has left a huge hole. While the offense is there, the overall camaraderie is off, leading to another rough opening month for the two-time defending Western Conference champions. Through 19 games, Edmonton is 8-7-4, sitting fourth in the Pacific Division.
Along with his grinding style of play, which made him a fan favorite with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he quickly became an exceptional offensive threat playing with the likes of captain Connor McDavid. He scored a career-best 54 goals during the 2023-24 campaign. He was limited to 73 games last season, but still managed to score 27 goals and 17 assists for 44 points.
In 653 career games, Hyman has scored 230 goals and 213 assists for 443 points, with another 73 points coming in 100 postseason contests.