The Toronto Maple Leafs caught the league by surprise when they emerged victorious on the Edmonton Oilers’ home ice on Tuesday. The 5-2 margin was bigger than the Oilers would have liked at Rogers Place, and the defeat marked a second successive loss after their unsuccessful showdown against the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 31.
However, another issue has perturbed the Oilers community besides the freak defeat. Sam Bennett was deemed a more suitable replacement for Anthony Cirelli in Team Canada, and not a standout winger who is a trusted cornerstone of the team. The decision to leave him out of the lineup has not sat well with many.
Oilers Community Disapproves of Team Canada Leaving Out Zach Hyman
Zach Hyman is one such player who is not just a reliable performer on the ice but also a crucial presence in the Oilers’ locker room. He is a capable leader and supplies his teammates with regular doses of optimism. Hyman’s three-game point streak broke when the Oilers met the Wild. The veteran winger has accumulated 36 points in 38 games so far this season. When he is in his best form, Hyman can play a really decisive role in changing the course of the game.
It goes without saying that when the news emerged that Bennett would replace Cirelli to represent Canada on the international stage, it ruffled the feathers of many in the Oilers world who believed Hyman had proven himself worthy of the Olympic stage.
“Zach Hyman gets passed over again. I’m legit surprised this time,” Tyler Yaremchuk of the Oilersnation shared on his social media account, expressing his shock about the Hyman snub.
“I am upset for Hyman,” Oilers analyst Mathew Panchyshyn commented, echoing a widespread sentiment about the veteran winger’s exclusion.
“At this rate, Zach Hyman will host The Lockshop before he gets consideration for the Olympics,” host of Edmonton Sports Talk, Lieutenant Eric, wrote on his social media, clearly annoyed at the turn of events.
“Should have been Zach Hyman,” World Hockey Report shared on their X account. Bleed Oil Blue had a similar reaction to Hyman being left out. “Oilers Zach Hyman still can’t get on Team Canada wow.”
Hyman has repeatedly proven to be a valuable asset to the Oilers. He has impeccable chemistry with Connor McDavid that could have come in handy for Team Canada. In Bennett’s defense, the forward has successful playoff experience and is closer to Cirelli in terms of play. Yet, the issue has left the community starkly divided.
