BLOG: Hyman hungry to return to Oilers lineup

CALGARY, AB – Weddings and wrist rehab have been Zach Hyman's go-to summer activities.

The veteran forward sat down for a one-on-one interview with Oilers TV's Paige Martin on Wednesday during Hockey Canada's National Teams Orientation Camp in Calgary as one of 42 players invited to attend in anticipation of the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Hyman provided an update on his recovery from a dislocated wrist sustained during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 27 and talked about how he's spent another abbreviated summer after the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup championship series for the second year in a row.

"It's good, it's coming along really well," he said of his wrist, which was surgically repaired following the open-ice collision with Stars forward Mason Marchment that knocked him out of the playoffs.

"I'm excited to get back out there when I get back to Edmonton."

Hyman called his healing process "long and tedious" as he's still wearing a wrist brace.

"I had surgery, so I was in a cast for two months and now I'm in this one, but I'm almost out of it which is nice, and can get back to some normalcy soon," he said.

When asked about his specific timeline, Hyman said he will continue to work with the Oilers medical staff when he heads west to Edmonton next week as they progress towards his eventual return to action, with the season opener slated for October 8 vs. Calgary.

"I feel good but I've got to wait and see what the docs say when I get back," he said. "I'm on their timeline, but it shouldn't be too much longer."

As painful as his injury was, Hyman also had a tough time watching the Cup Final from the press box, unable to assist the Blue & Orange as they were defeated in six games by the Florida Panthers.

"It was different... it's hard watching when you want to be out there with your teammates and helping and you kind of feel helpless at times because you don't have a say on the ice," he said. "But I was just trying to be a support system for them and obviously having played in the Final before, I know how hard it is. There's highs and lows and you just try to be there for them."

Hyman may not have been able to provide support for his brothers on the ice, but he has been able to be there for them away from the rink this summer as he attended Leon Draisaitl's wedding in France earlier this month and will stand next to his literal brother when he ties the knot this weekend.

"Busy, busy, busy," he said of his offseason. "Going the distance that we went, summer is very condensed. Lots of weddings. Time of my life right now when you're in your 30s, a lot of people are getting married and obviously Leon being one. So that was a really great wedding to see a bunch of the guys in a great destination... I've got my brother's wedding coming up on Sunday, so I'll fly back for that and then I'll come back out to Edmonton."

Hyman said he's looking forward to embarking upon training camp with the new Oilers coaches – Paul McFarland (assistant), Peter Aubry (goaltending) and Conor Allen (skills) – as well as new teammates like Andrew Mangiapane and Isaac Howard.