The Edmonton Oilers faced a nail-biting conclusion to their playoff run, and one lingering question from that intense period involves the health of key forward Zach Hyman. Injured during the Western Conference Final, Hyman is now in the midst of recovery, and his status for the commencement of the 2025-26 NHL season remains notably uncertain.
Hyman sustained a fractured wrist in Game 4 against the Dallas Stars. The incident occurred during a seemingly routine play in the neutral zone when a hit from Mason Marchment caught the Oilers forward at an awkward angle. The immediate reaction — dropping his stick and heading directly off the ice holding his right arm – underscored the seriousness of the injury at the time.
Following the playoffs, Hyman underwent surgery to address the fracture. As of a recent update, he is still wearing a protective brace, a rather persistent accessory for a professional athlete during the off-season. The good news, according to Hyman, is that the brace is expected to come off in the coming weeks, marking another step forward in the rehabilitation process.
“I feel good, still wearing the brace. I get it off in a couple weeks, which is great,” Hyman commented on his current state. “I`m still in the recovery phase, but looking forward to getting back on the ice and getting going when I can.”
However, the critical question looms: will he be ready when the puck drops on opening night? Hyman, drawing on past experience with significant injuries like an ACL tear, is deliberately avoiding setting a firm date for his return. This cautious approach reflects a pragmatism born of rehabilitation`s unpredictable nature; timelines, as any injured athlete knows, can be frustratingly fluid.
“I don’t even know what the timeline is, to be honest, but that’s definitely not out of the question,” Hyman stated regarding his readiness for the season start. “I haven’t set a date or anything like that. I’ve dealt with it with the ACL. Once you set a date, you get disappointed if you don’t play on that date. So I hope to play on opening night. I don’t know if I will.”
For the Oilers, Hyman`s health is a significant factor. Coming off a prolific goal-scoring season, his presence in the lineup, particularly alongside the team`s offensive core, is vital. While recovery appears to be progressing, the timeline remains tight for being cleared for full contact and game readiness by early October.
Fans and the team will be closely monitoring Hyman`s progress throughout the remainder of the off-season and into training camp. His hopeful, yet realistic, outlook suggests a dedicated recovery process is underway, but the start of the 2025-26 season might just begin without one of Edmonton`s most impactful forwards if his wrist isn`t quite ready for the rigours of NHL competition.
