Zach Hyman to the Edmonton Oilers Inching Closer

The Edmonton Oilers met with free agent Zach Hyman recently after the Toronto Maple Leafs gave the pending free agent permission to speak to other teams. It sounds like the Oilers are extremely interested and willing to think long term.

Friedman on SN: "I think you could potentially see a Zach Hyman deal in Edmonton and we'll see if Toronto makes a trade with them so Hyman can get the 8th year and Toronto can get a draft pick out of it, the Maple Leafs are a little short of draft picks."

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 22, 2021

The Oilers don't have a ton of draft picks so this certainly will be something to look out for. Perhaps another team gets involved to fulfill the needs of the Maple Leafs. 

As for Toronto, they will have some new secondary pieces next season as Hyman and Nick Foligno appear to be all but gone. Add in Zach Bogosian and Frederik Andersen likely leaving town and Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has some more work to do. 

As for Hyman, his work ethic is about to make him a ton of money. Not many forecheckers retrieve the puck better than the University of Michigan product. Every one of his 345 games with the Maple Leafs was played hard and Leafs Nation will certainly remember that much. Now everyone waits for the official word.

Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports