Nobody spent the summer of 2021 talking about Zach Hyman as though he'd change the direction of the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette]. People talked about the contract, his age, whether seven years made sense for a player whose game involved throwing himself into corners and setting up shop at the top of the crease. If anything, there seemed to be a general feeling that Edmonton had paid for the player Hyman had been in Toronto, rather than the player he would become. A few years later, it's hard to imagine the team without him. Some players make life easier on everybody around them, and Hyman has become one of those guys. Coaches trust him, teammates know what they're getting, and Connor McDavid knows that if a puck is chipped into a corner, there's a pretty good chance Hyman will come out with it. It isn't glamorous work, and it probably never will be, but winning teams have always been full of players who make the game a little less difficult for everyone else. That's part of the reason why his signing has aged so well. It also says something about the type of player Edmonton should be hunting for. The temptation after a disappointing season is always to think bigger. Fans dream about star players because they're exciting. They sell jerseys. They dominate television panels. They make trade proposals more fun. Reality tends to be less dramatic. Is He The Guy? Oilers Sign Connor Ungar [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fffcf755-7c53-46ae-8889-c3427468f3d5.png] Is He The Guy? Oilers Sign Connor Ungar Connor Ungar probably wasn't thinking about Grant Fuhr when he signed his contract with the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a>. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/is-he-the-guy-oilers-sign-connor-ungar] Take a look around the teams that have enjoyed recent success and you'll find plenty of players whose value goes far beyond point totals. Carolina just won the Stanley Cup with Jordan Martinook playing meaningful minutes. Sam Bennett became one of Florida's most important players long before he became one of its most recognizable ones. Vegas found a home for Pavel Dorofeyev and ended up with far more than they bargained for. Nobody throws parades for winning puck battles in November. General managers notice them, though. So do coaches. So do first line players. 4 Areas Of Concern: Fallout From Oilers’ Mike Babcock Move To Make Him Coach [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2a4b0435-0f2d-42f9-bcfa-2bff4bfe62fd.jpeg] 4 Areas Of Concern: Fallout From Oilers’ Mike Babcock Move To Make Him Coach Edmonton’s polarizing decision to hire Mike Babcock will raise questions about locker room stability and free agent appeal as the franchise balances championship ambitions against Babcock’s controversial reputation and history. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/4-areas-of-concern-fallout-from-oilers-mike-babcock-move-to-make-him-coach] Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don't spend their summers hoping another player will show up to take the puck away from them. What every great player appreciates are teammates who recover pucks, arrive on time, take a hit to make a play and understand that there are plenty of ways to influence a game besides ending up on the scoresheet. Hyman understands that. So did Ryan Smyth. Fernando Pisani understood it. Pat Maroon made himself invaluable because he understood it. Every era of Oilers hockey seems to produce one or two players whose importance only becomes fully appreciated when they're gone. Oilers To Formally Begin Process of Hiring Mike Babcock, NHL Clears Him For Return [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b88b6c68-9eab-4a08-a186-8b811d7c07c2.jpeg] Oilers To Formally Begin Process of Hiring Mike Babcock, NHL Clears Him For Return Following a league investigation into his conduct, the veteran coach prepares for a high-stakes comeback in Edmonton as contract negotiations move toward an official announcement next week. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-to-formally-begin-process-of-hiring-mike-babcock-nhl-clears-him-for-return] Maybe that's Dawson Mercer. Maybe Owen Tippett finds another level in a different environment. Mason McTavish would fit the mould if Anaheim ever decided to entertain the idea, although that seems unlikely. Or perhaps the player Stan Bowman is looking for hasn't been mentioned in any rumours yet. These things have a funny way of sneaking up on people. After all, when Hyman signed in Edmonton, nobody was writing columns about how he'd become one of the defining acquisitions of the current era. Most people were arguing about the term. Which is probably a useful reminder that the Oilers don't need a miracle. They already have Connor McDavid. Are Buyout-Proof Contracts Going To Lead the Oilers to More Trades? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/de39a22e-aa7d-47d0-8ef2-57bd2c5a730d.jpeg] Are Buyout-Proof Contracts Going To Lead the Oilers to More Trades? Despite the buyout window opening, Edmonton faces real challenges using buyouts as a way to get out of some unfortunate contracts. Heavy signing bonuses and long-term penalties may force management into trades. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/are-buyout-proof-contracts-going-to-lead-the-oilers-to-more-trades] What they need are more players who can spend a Tuesday night in Columbus digging pucks off the wall, annoying opposing defencemen and making sure their stars don't have to do every single thing themselves. Zach Hyman built an entire career around that idea. Finding another player willing to do the same might end up being one of the most important jobs on Stan Bowman's list this summer. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. 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