ZACH HYMAN - Right Winger - 27 - $2.25MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2021-2022
LAST UPDATED 8/22/19
While Zach Hyman may not seem like much to fans outside of Leafs Nation, he's proven himself to be an invaluable part of the Leafs' supporting cast. Now, Zach Hyman is a difficult player to write about. I genuinely want to sing his praises. He's a legitimately great forechecker and his relentless motor and high work ethic makes him a true asset. In addition, his ability to stick on a top-6 line and score 40 points as a complementary player is huge, because his ability to keep up with better players and finish the chances he's given allows the Leafs to bring some defensive punch to their top-6. He's not an offensive creator on his own, but his ability to stick with better players and score is really valuable. That being said, I struggle to really hype him up, because of how much the media already does that. Hyman got Selke votes in his rookie and sophomore season, which I find absolutely absurd. Yes, he's one of the game's best forecheckers, and he's a strong defensive winger, but he is not among the game's best in that respect. Just look at Hyman's isolated impact metrics. I don't think that these underlying numbers are the pinnacle of player evaluation, but they do measure Hyman as a below-average penalty killer and only slightly above-average at 5v5 defense in his own zone. Sure, they don't really value forechecking in that too much, but it does show the level of value Hyman's defense brings in his own end. I don't think that he's the type of big, strong defensive forward who can consistently win board battles against other big forwards and single handedly clear the puck. He absolutely does all the smaller things well. I don't want take that away from him, I'm merely mentioning the struggle I face when I compliment his game, because I don't want it to fuel the level of praise he's getting. If Hyman plays for the Arizona Coyotes, for example, and brings that same forechecking two-way game to the first line with Clayton Keller, does he get Selke Votes? I don't think so. So that's what I want to correct. He is absolutely a valuable player and I think he'll thrive in a Chris Kunitz-like role for the Leafs, but I cannot allow myself to be silent while he's getting more Selke votes than Mark Stone, because that's exactly what happened in 2017-18. Put down those pitchforks, Leafs Nation. I'm a fan of Hyman's. He's valuable. Don't worry. But please, please, don't say he's a down-ballot Selke contender, because he really shouldn't be.
While Zach Hyman may not seem like much to fans outside of Leafs Nation, he's proven himself to be an invaluable part of the Leafs' supporting cast. Now, Zach Hyman is a difficult player to write about. I genuinely want to sing his praises. He's a legitimately great forechecker and his relentless motor and high work ethic makes him a true asset. In addition, his ability to stick on a top-6 line and score 40 points as a complementary player is huge, because his ability to keep up with better players and finish the chances he's given allows the Leafs to bring some defensive punch to their top-6. He's not an offensive creator on his own, but his ability to stick with better players and score is really valuable. That being said, I struggle to really hype him up, because of how much the media already does that. Hyman got Selke votes in his rookie and sophomore season, which I find absolutely absurd. Yes, he's one of the game's best forecheckers, and he's a strong defensive winger, but he is not among the game's best in that respect. Just look at Hyman's isolated impact metrics. I don't think that these underlying numbers are the pinnacle of player evaluation, but they do measure Hyman as a below-average penalty killer and only slightly above-average at 5v5 defense in his own zone. Sure, they don't really value forechecking in that too much, but it does show the level of value Hyman's defense brings in his own end. I don't think that he's the type of big, strong defensive forward who can consistently win board battles against other big forwards and single handedly clear the puck. He absolutely does all the smaller things well. I don't want take that away from him, I'm merely mentioning the struggle I face when I compliment his game, because I don't want it to fuel the level of praise he's getting. If Hyman plays for the Arizona Coyotes, for example, and brings that same forechecking two-way game to the first line with Clayton Keller, does he get Selke Votes? I don't think so. So that's what I want to correct. He is absolutely a valuable player and I think he'll thrive in a Chris Kunitz-like role for the Leafs, but I cannot allow myself to be silent while he's getting more Selke votes than Mark Stone, because that's exactly what happened in 2017-18. Put down those pitchforks, Leafs Nation. I'm a fan of Hyman's. He's valuable. Don't worry. But please, please, don't say he's a down-ballot Selke contender, because he really shouldn't be.
Services |
Company |
|