The Edmonton Oilers were dealt a heavy blow after head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that star forward Zach Hyman is “most likely done” for the season.
Hyman, who was injured during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday, May 27, will now undergo surgery. The 32-year-old forward’s absence will be keenly felt on the ice, as he has played a big role in the team’s success this season.
Zach Hyman’s Injury a Big Loss for the Oilers
Hyman notched 27 goals and 44 points in 73 regular-season games and added five goals and 11 points in 15 playoff contests. He also led the NHL with 109 hits in the playoffs. His absence leaves a massive hole in the Oilers’ top six and on their power play.
The bad news has sent Oilers fans into a tailspin. Hockey writer Nathan Carroll posted a strong reaction to the news about Hyman’s condition on X.
Damn. Absolute worst case scenario. His finishing and physicality has been critical during this run. Big time loss. https://t.co/EVQSBwLikq
— Nathan Carroll (@Nathan_26_) May 28, 2025
“Hoping for a speedy recovery!” one fan wrote on social media.
“That’s tough, hate to see it,” another fan added.
One fan wrote that he was “absolutely crushed” upon learning of Hyman’s injury.
Inside Oilers’ Injury Crisis Amid Zach Hyman Setback
Hyman is the latest name on the list of sidelined Oilers players. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm, forward Connor Brown, and goaltender Calvin Pickard are all out injured as well.
“It’s a big loss,” Hyman’s teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said after the game. “He’s a big part of our team, on and off the ice, the way he does things. You’ve seen his physicality. It’s important to our game, but other guys have already stepped up and tried to fill the gap.”
Hyman was injured at 9:17 of the first period in the game against the Dallas Stars. He was carrying the puck out of the defensive zone and tried to slip past Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell when he was met by a heavy shoulder hit from Stars forward Mason Marchment.
Hyman immediately dropped his stick and skated straight to the bench before heading down the tunnel, seeming to favor his right arm. He did not return to the ice, and no penalty was called on the play, though the hit quickly became a point of debate among fans and analysts.
Despite Hyman’s absence, the Oilers raced to a convincing 4-1 victory and pushed the Stars’ backs to the wall with a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.
Oilers’ duo Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid chipped in with two assists, while goaltender Stuart Skinner made 28 saves to anchor the win. Dallas’s Jason Robertson scored the lone goal for the Stars.
Knoblauch praised his team’s performance, saying the team defense had clicked on the night.
“You guys ask us about our checking and defensive play all the time. Those guys can defend,” Knoblauch said. “They’re good at it and good when it matters most, in the third period, holding the lead. There’s a lot of older guys with playoff experience, they know what it takes to win hockey games.
Edmonton now heads to Dallas for Game 5, needing just one more win to clinch a return to the Stanley Cup Final for the second season in a row.
