For Edmonton Oilers fans, the wait drags on. Zach Hyman offered his most candid update yet on his wrist injury, and while his words carried optimism, they also confirmed that certainty remains out of reach. His recovery timeline is still a question mark, leaving both the player and the organization in a state of cautious anticipation as the new season approaches.
What Did Hyman Say About His Injury and Recovery?
Hyman underwent wrist surgery on May 28 after a collision with Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. The procedure sidelined him for the remainder of Edmonton’s playoff run, a stretch he described as “miserable.”
“It was very horrible, very hard. No matter what, you’re stressed whether you’re up or down. You have no control. You’re helpless,” Hyman told NHL.com.
Away from his teammates, he admitted he “was a stress case,” while around them, he tried to be “an emotional support system.”
“It’s a huge honour & it makes it more real in a sense that you’re getting closer to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Olympics potentially.”#Oilers forward Zach Hyman on being one of 42 players invited to @HockeyCanada‘s National Teams Orientation Camp. pic.twitter.com/Lio9Lsxht0
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 27, 2025
Speaking this week at Hockey Canada’s 2025 National Teams Orientation Camp, Hyman explained how this wrist rehab differs from the knee injury he battled in 2019.
“I [hurt] my knee in 2019, and the knee is different because you can’t skate,” he said. “I’m skating. This is my top hand. I’m doing all the things I normally do, but I’m being cautious with my bottom hand.”
That key distinction highlights why he is able to maintain his conditioning and timing on the ice without being able to fully declare himself game-ready.
The next major checkpoint is a final appointment with his surgeon. “I have one more meeting with the surgeon to wrap it up, which is great,” Hyman said. “Will I be ready for the start of the season? I don’t know. But I’m on the right track, which is good. The fact that I don’t know is a good thing because it could be, ‘No, I’m not.’”
His update carried the same tone the Oilers have struck all summer: an optimistic but uncertain outlook. While team officials have not declared him out for Opening Night, some external projections have speculated that he could miss the very start of the season.
Hyman also reflected on a stop-and-start 2024-25 campaign that came before the surgery. “I think everything that could have gone wrong for me went wrong in the first half,” he recalled. “I started off slow statistically, had a concussion, a bunch of other little bumps and bruises, shattered my nose, and then obviously wasn’t selected for the team.”
For Edmonton, the approach remains straightforward. The club plans to keep Hyman active through training camp while limiting his participation in contact drills, then finalize his status after the surgeon’s visit. If he is cleared, he will immediately slot back into his top-six role.
If not, the Oilers can manage his absence with a day-to-day designation or a brief stint on injured reserve.
Ultimately, the team’s overarching message is that they prioritize process over prediction. Hyman is skating, progressing, and on the “right track.” While the exact date of his return remains uncertain, both the player and the team are determined to ensure that when he does come back, it will be for the long haul.
