Zach Hyman should be a part of Oilers third line upon return – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman will make his NBA debut on Saturday (Nov. 15) against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hyman hasn’t played since injuring his wrist in Game 4 of last season’s Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars.
The 2010 fifth-round pick has been a mainstay on Edmonton’s top line and a much-needed netminder for a strong team. He has 144 goals in 308 games with the Oilers, including 54 in the 2023-24 season, and is an efficient winger who is physical on the glass and plays great defense. The Toronto native has been sorely missed as the team struggled to run a balanced offense without him.
Hyman will likely regain his spot on the top line alongside Connor McDavid, but is that the best position for him after a serious injury? He can provide value in the lower half of the lineup and help generate offense in the bottom six. Head coach Chris Knoblauch should seriously consider starting him on the third line.
The Oilers should put Heyman in the lineup
Heyman hasn’t competed in nearly six months. He will regain a spot on the top power-play unit, but he should start on the third line and play protected minutes while giving him better matchups until he adjusts. It might be a good idea to limit him to 13 minutes per game early on.
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Now, Knoblauch doesn’t trust his bottom six players. Curtis Lazar, Matias Janmark, David Tomasek and Trent Frederic all played less than 10 minutes against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (Nov. 13), while Noah Philp played 10:43.
The addition of Hyman to the group should help build Knoblauch’s trust and, in turn, give those players more opportunities to play with skilled shooters that they wouldn’t normally get to do. Playing him on the third line would also improve the team’s depth, even if only in the short term.
Leon Draisaitl, Jack Roslovic and Vasily Podkolzin are a solid second line, while McDavid can currently stay on the first line with Matt Savoie and Andrew Mangiapane. Once Heyman regains his footing, he could replace Mangiapane on the top line. Alternatively, he could join McDavid and Savoie on the top line once Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returns from injury. The Oilers have options, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Heyman could help elevate Trent Frederic
The Oilers desperately need 5-on-5, especially in the bottom six, and Hyman can provide that. The 33-year-old could help improve Frederic and his scoring touch. Frederic has scored just one goal in 19 games after signing an eight-year, $3.85 million salary-cap hit extension in June. This trade looks worse than expected so far, and maybe Heyman can help him find the spark he needs to start producing.
The Oilers need to find and establish their identity. The third line of defense consisting of Hyman, Frederic, and Adam Henrique could be that physical trio that can forecheck, get to the net, and wear down opponents. The Oilers lack physicality and toughness, so pairing Hyman with Frederic should help.
It also provides Frederic with a skilled forward. The St. Louis native has had two productive seasons with the Boston Bruins, scoring 17 goals in 2022-23 and 18 the following season. The offense is there, so maybe Hyman can help him make plays.
Should Heyman return to his usual spot on the top line or provide energy on the third line? Wherever he plays, he will be a much-needed boost to the forward group. Continue to follow hockey writer All NHL content throughout the season.
