The Edmonton Oilers are likely to lose Zach Hyman for the rest of the playoffs due to an upper-body injury that required surgery. This is a big blow for the team because Hyman plays an important role in creating scoring chances, making hits, and scoring timely goals. Now, the Oilers must adopt a “next man up” mindset and find someone to fill Hyman’s important spot.
Why Replacing Zach Hyman Won’t Be Easy
Zach Hyman brings a unique style to the Oilers. He generates high-danger chances, wins rebounds, and plays physical hockey with lots of hits. Not many players on the current Oilers roster have the same skills or play the same way. While Jeff Skinner might get a chance to play, he might not be the best fit to replace Hyman’s exact role on the team.
Three Players Who Could Step Up for the Oilers
Evander Kane
The most straightforward option is to move Evander Kane up in the lineup to fill Hyman’s spot. Kane shares many qualities with Hyman—he can hit hard, score goals, and understands the game well enough to play alongside Connor McDavid. Kane is a strong shooter and has impressed fans after coming back from a long injury break. Though he’s not as fast as Hyman, his smart play and motivation make him a good candidate to take over.
Kasperi Kapanen
Kapanen has been one of the positive surprises in these playoffs. He replaced Viktor Arvidsson and has stayed in the lineup. He’s fast, can score, and plays his role well. While he doesn’t have as many hits as Hyman, he has a high hits-per-minute rate, showing he plays physical when on the ice. Kapanen also has better finishing skills compared to some other options, making him a strong choice to step up.
Trent Frederic
Though a longer shot, Frederic could get a chance to play in Game 5. He has some experience playing with McDavid and showed he can keep up. Frederic is physical and willing to battle in front of the net—just like Hyman. While he’s scored only one goal this playoffs, he showed potential last season with 18 goals and a good shooting percentage. If Frederic impresses, he could become an important part of the Oilers’ lineup. If not, the coach will need to look for other options quickly.
Losing Zach Hyman is a serious setback for the Edmonton Oilers, but the team still has options to fill the gap. Evander Kane, Kasperi Kapanen, and Trent Frederic each bring different strengths that could help replace Hyman’s role. The Oilers need to stay flexible and ready to adjust as the playoffs continue. With the right choices, the team can keep its strong momentum and keep pushing toward success.
