Emotional statement from Oilers’ Zach Hyman ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final

Ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers held a press conference on Wednesday and star forward Zach Hyman took the podium. He confirmed that he dislocated his wrist and tore some ligaments in his wrist when he got injured in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final last Tuesday. He received a hit from Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment midway through the first period. As soon as he got hit, Hyman dropped his stick and favored his right arm. He immediately left the ice and headed to the Oilers’ dressing room.

On Wednesday, Hymen unfortunately couldn’t say for sure if he will be ready for training camp in September. He also described the moment his season ended.

“I just felt my wrist kind of go on me, and even then you still think, whatever it is you’ll be able to play through it or there’ll be a chance you can play through it,” said Hyman. “But quickly realized when I saw the doctors, it’s something that needed surgery and something that I wasn’t going to be able to play through. I think I was still delusional, I could play through it until after the surgery … emotional in the moment.

“I don’t think I fully grasped it until later, then you kind of get your head around it. Some things in life you can’t control, and this is one of them.”

It only got more emotional for Hyman and all of his fans watching when he explained how Connor McDavid was the first teammate to comfort him mid-game after he dislocated his wrist.

“You’re heartbroken,” said Hyman. “Gave me a big hug. Honestly, that’s when I broke down.”

Hyman had been a tremendous player for Edmonton since the start of the postseason, leading the NHL with 111 hits in 15 games this postseason and ranks fifth in scoring on Edmonton with 11 points (five goals, six assists). He scored 54 goals last season and 16 during the Oilers’ run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. After the heartbreaking loss in Florida, Hyman gave a memorable speech to his teammates, promising the group would be back.

They are. Unfortunately Hyman won’t be part of the action. And it feels now like the Oilers want to do all the way and hoisted the Stanley Cup, in great part for Hyman.