The Edmonton Oilers may soon be getting a major boost to their lineup with Zach Hyman trending toward a return earlier than expected.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch said Thursday that Hyman could be back in early November, possibly as soon as Nov. 1.
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The veteran winger has been sidelined since suffering a fractured wrist and ligament damage during last spring’s playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Hyman was injured in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final after a neutral-zone collision with Stars forward Mason Marchment. He underwent surgery shortly after and missed the remainder of the postseason.
Knoblauch said the 33-year-old forward is progressing well and has been a full participant in team practices.
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“Zach is very upbeat and cheerful because he’s joined the team,” Knoblauch said. “He’s part of our practices. … We believe we’re playing Nov. 1, whether it’s that day or not, we hope it’s early November.”
That timeline aligns with the team’s original projection, but the tone surrounding the update suggested increased confidence that Hyman may be slightly ahead of schedule.
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) and winger Zach Hyman (18) celebrate after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the 2025 playoffs.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Through eight games, Edmonton has struggled to find consistent offense, scoring 24 goals while missing a top-line contributor in Hyman. Before Thursday’s 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens, however, the Oilers had just 18 goals in seven games.
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Hyman scored 27 goals during 2024-25 regular season and added five more in the playoffs before the injury finished his year early.
The Oilers forward participated in optional skates earlier this week and has steadily increased his workload, aiming at a return in the next few days, or weeks at the latest. If cleared, Hyman would be eligible to return for Edmonton’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 1.
The Oilers are 4–3–1 after Thursday’s victory. They next face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, puck drop set for 10 p.m. ET.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.