The start date for the 2020/21 NHL season has not yet been determined. Although, it may be a foregone conclusion that next season will be played entirely in 2021. Nonetheless, until a firm start date is established, no-one knows for certain how many regular season games each team will play. Consequently, the dates of other significant events such as the trade deadline, the entry draft, and free agency remain unknown.
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The purpose of this article is to take an open book look at Zach Hyman, the player, to see if it helps us understand or interpret his thoughts about his pending eligibility for unrestricted free agency at the end of 2021 season.
Early On, Hyman Knew How to Get Noticed
At a young age, Zach Hyman knew how to get noticed in the game of hockey. In a May 2020 podcast hosted by his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Connor Carrick, Hyman and Carrick shared memories about playing minor hockey.
“When you’re trying to ascend levels, as a forward you have to score goals and you have to put up points. For better or worse, that’s really how you get noticed, is by your statistics. Early on you just try to be a goal scorer, a point scorer, and you want to get to the next level.”
Getting to the next level was Hyman’s aim. He succeeded. He got noticed. At 15-years of age, Hyman made a commitment to play U.S.A. college hockey. It was a year before he started playing in the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Playing Tier II Junior “A” allowed Hyman to maintain his eligibility to play NCAA hockey. In his third and final year with the Hamilton Red Wings, Hyman was the team’s captain and leading scorer. He had 102 points in 43 games and was named the 2010/11 CJHL player of the year.
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Zach Hyman was ready to move on to the next level. He was ready to go play for his new coach, NHL legend Red Berenson, and his new team, the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Red Berenson Challenged Hyman to Figure Out How to Make the NHL
Before his NCAA career began Hyman was optimistic his ability to put up points would continue. He was ready to take-off from where he landed at the conclusion of his time in the CJHL. He was ready.
By the end of his first season in the NCAA it was obvious things did not go the way the perennial goal scorer and point producer had hoped, had expected. In his first season with the Wolverines, Hyman had nine points in 41 games.
A self-assessment told him it wasn’t for a lack of trying. He had worked hard and always tried to be the best version of himself. But in review, Hyman realized that he didn’t know how to play a two-way game.
Coach Berenson agreed. In conversation with Carrick, Hyman recalled that after the end-of-year team meeting Berenson pulled him into his office. Hyman shared his memory of what Berenson said:
“You know Zach; you’re doing all the right things. You’re working hard. You just need to keep going, and keep working.”
Coach Berenson could have stopped there, but he didn’t. Hyman told Carrick that Berenson asked him a question.
“What are you going to be good at, because right now you’re not scoring goals; you’re not putting up points, so how are you going to make it to the NHL?”
Coach Berenson Offered Hyman Some Advice
In processing his coach’s question, Hyman acknowledged his own strengths. He was pretty strong. He was pretty fast. He knew he could be hard to play against. He could go get the puck, be on the puck, all the time.
Hyman recalled more of what Coach Berenson said:
“The way you’re going to make it to the next level is, you gotta be an elite penalty killer, and you gotta be an elite two-way player…the NHL is turning into grinders who can score.”
Hyman was 19-years old when he received, and took, Coach Berenson’s advice on how he could make it to the NHL. He knew there was a lot of room to grow and develop. It began off the ice. He wanted to be stronger. In the gym, he worked harder than anybody else. He wanted to be one of the most-fit players.
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In his second year on the ice in the NCAA, Hyman did the things he said he was going to do. He went into the corners and got the puck back for his team. He hoped, as the season progressed, it would help him score some goals.
When the 2nd season in Michigan ended, Zach Hyman played 38 games and had recorded the same number of points he had in his first year, nine. He wondered what he was doing wrong. He had worked hard but his point production hadn’t taken a jump to the next level.
He and Berenson met again. The Coach told him he was doing all the right things. He told Zach to stick with it. Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep working hard.
Hyman listened to his coach. He was determined to keep his foot on the gas and stick with the program the Coach seemed to think was going to pay off for him. He could have decided otherwise, but didn’t. He still wanted to get better. He trusted Berenson. He trusted himself. He still loved the game. He still wanted to make the NHL.
Third Time’s the Charm
Hyman’s third season with the Wolverines didn’t start as well as he had hoped. After 17 games he was on pace for another nine point season.
He must have been doing something right, though. Coach Berenson moved him up in the line-up and Hyman scored 15 points in the final 15 games of the season.
Hyman went on to have a breakout year in his senior season, his fourth in the NCAA. In retrospect, Hyman said this during his time as a guest on Carrick’s podcast:
“The key was to have a positive attitude and to work hard, and to work through it, and to own something other guys don’t have, or don’t want to do.”
The story Hyman shared with his former Maple Leafs teammate opened the book on the player, and provided some insight about the person. Zach Hyman knows it takes hard work and dedication to succeed. His NCAA experience, including his exposure to Red Berenson, provided long-lasting proof.
The approach he applied in Michigan is his playbook, and it has served him well. He used it again after he joined the Maple Leafs in 2015.
What is Hyman Thinking in the Final Year of His Current Contract?
Hyman is coming off a career year in goals and points. These were accomplished in the fewest games he’s played in an NHL season. He missed the early part of the 2019/20 season because of the April 2019 surgery he had to repair a torn ACL.
After the NHL paused the 2019/20 regular season, Hyman spoke about the regular season and his pending eligibility for unrestricted free agency at the end of 2021 season. He was quoted by Terry Koshan in the Toronto Sun.
“Personally, I was having a great season, but I think I can be a lot better. I would love to stay in Toronto. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I want to be.”
Free agency notwithstanding, there is no doubt Hyman remains committed to the playbook he built while playing for Coach Berenson. His mindset is to prepare and practice, and go into each game, each shift, the only way he knows how; delivering the best version of himself.
That’s his job. That’s the commitment he makes to himself, his teammates, coaches, and general manager. It has proven to produce good outcomes.
My understanding, my interpretation of Zach Hyman; he won’t be distracted by his pending eligibility for unrestricted free agency. He’ll be focused on being better than last season. He will be as good as his team needs him to be.
Hopefully, he gets to play on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, while John Tavares pairs up with Mitch Marner and one other still to be determined, possibly Wayne Simmonds.
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