Oilers' Zach Hyman Provides Health Update for 2025-26 Season

Zach Hyman is on the right track when it comes to getting back to 100% healthy, it just may take a little bit longer than first expected.

The Edmonton Oilers forward recently spoke to the media, and opened up about his timeline to return, which unfortunately for Oilers' fans, could mean they have to wait until later in the season to see Hyman make his 2025-26 debut. 

"Have one more meeting with the surgeon to wrap it up, which is great," Hyman told NHL.com at Hockey Canada's 2025 National Teams Orientation Camp on Thursday. "Will I be ready for the start of the season? I don't know. But I'm on the right track, which is good. The fact that I don't know is a good thing because it could be, ‘No, I'm not.’"

Hyman missed the end of the Western Conference Final, and didn't suit up at all during the Stanley Cup rematch against the Florida Panthers. Needless to say, it drove Hyman nuts having to watch his team battle from the press box. 

"It was miserable," Hyman said of watching the rest of the playoffs. "It's very horrible, very hard. No matter what you're stressed whether you're up or down. You have no control. You're helpless. At the same time you're trying to keep it all together and be supportive for the guys who are playing. So when I wasn't around them I was a stress case, and when I was I just tried to be an emotional support system, anchor for those guys."

Hyman is hopeful he can get back to 100% and make a serious run at being named to the Canadian Olympic team. He'd love a chance to suit up with his Oilers' teammate, Connor McDavid. 

"I remember watching (the 4 Nations) with our teammates cheering Connor (McDavid) on, and you want to be there, you want to be in those moments, you want to be on the greatest stage," Hyman said. "It's the competitiveness in you. I'd say watching was more motivation than not making the team because it's more real. It was disappointing, obviously, and I'll do everything I can to make this one."

Photo credit:  Perry Nelson-Imagn Images