Hyman's prolific season. with the Edmonton Oilers is no surprise to his former teammates.
The Toronto Maple Leafs know what is at stake for Zach Hyman.
The lifelong Leafs fans moved on from the club in 2021 and signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers and it's been worth every penny.
The Toronto-born and raised Hyman has a chance to reach 50 goals in a season for the first time in his career on Saturday in his return, and the Leafs will do what they can to deny him of it.
"He's two from 50, so not tonight," Maple Leafs' Nylander said as he laughed. "It's been incredible. I mean, seeing him get his hat tricks, it's been lots of fun seeing him having great success there in Edmonton, I mean, as a friend. And yeah, so it'll be fun to play against him tonight too."
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed a unique nickname the team had for Hyman when in Toronto and explained what has led to Hyman's success this season.
"When I was with the Marlies, we called him Shaq Hyman for a reason, because he got to the paint more and better than anybody," Keefe said. "And now he's playing with the guy that gets the puck to the paint and tilts the ice more than anybody maybe in the history of the game. So it's a good fit. And he works to get to the right places. And he's getting rewarded for it."
In six years with the Maple Leafs, the 31-year-old had 86 goals in 345 NHL games. The leap he has taken with the Oilers has been substantial.
"I mean, he's been having a heck of a season. And I think just with him, every year he gets better and better," Auston Matthews said of Hyman. "I'm really happy for him. He's had an incredible year and scoring at a really great pace. So it's been fun to watch and we'll have to try to shut him down."
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