Analyst Surprised That Team Canada Continues to Pass on Zach Hyman

Team Canada has had to make two injury-replacement swaps to its Olympic roster in recent days, as Tampa Bay Lightning stars Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli were both forced to drop out due to their respective ailments.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s no problem for a Canadian team loaded with outside talent to choose from, and those they selected—Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis—are certainly worthy choices. That being said, several big names have continued to be overlooked by Hockey Canada, and none has drawn more attention than Zach Hyman.

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Hyman has, of course, been a staple alongside Connor McDavid since joining the Oilers, and his success there has TSN analyst Craig Button surprised that Canada wouldn’t take that into account—especially given how hard it is to build chemistry in such a short tournament.

Button said:

“No, and I’m really happy for Seth Jarvis to get that call and to be able to represent his country, but I think that Zach Hyman was the choice here, and here’s why. Because Connor McDavid is going to have the brightest spotlight on him, the responsibility to lead Canada is going to fall on his shoulders, and when we go back to the Four Nations faceoff—yeah, Canada won it, yeah, Connor McDavid won it in overtime—but they could never find the wingers to get him going. There was a lot of in and out with Connor McDavid in that tournament.

Zach Hyman—when you put him with Connor McDavid—it’s magic. It’s magic for McDavid, it’s magic for Zach Hyman. All you’ve got to do is look at Connor McDavid with Hyman and without Hyman. When you consider what the Olympics are about, I think Zach Hyman was the call,”

The 33-year-old Hyman has once again been extremely productive next to McDavid in Edmonton this season, having tallied 36 points (22 goals, 14 assists) in just 39 games played, averaging the fourth-most goals per game of any Canadian-born player at 0.564.

Without Zach Hyman, Who Will Flank Connor McDavid?

While Hyman might have been the ideal choice to flank McDavid on the top line, Team Canada clearly didn’t see it that way, leaving the question of who they envision in that role.

As Button pointed out, McDavid saw a revolving door of wingers at the Four Nations faceoff, including the likes of Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Mark Stone, Brayden Point, and even Sidney Crosby at various points.

Point’s speed appeared to mesh with McDavid, though he’s now unavailable. And while Marner connected with him on the tournament-winning goal, there wasn’t an obvious fit with any of the other wingers he played alongside. Jon Cooper and company could go back to the well with one of those same veterans, or perhaps they give youngster Macklin Celebrini a chance to pair his dynamic skill set with McDavid.

Either way, it might take some time to find the right fit, which makes it all the more confusing why they passed on Hyman—who is proven to be a perfect complement to Canada’s best player.

Next: Insiders Hint at Coveted Veteran Coach as Potential Fit for Oilers