Oilers Held Meeting With Analytics Company That Made a Guarantee on Zach Hyman

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Liam McCormick
November 1, 2024 (4:59 PM)

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Oilers forward Zach Hyman was mired in a tough scoring slump to begin the season, and the team organized a meeting with an analytics company to get the bottom of his struggles.

Hyman went goalless for his first 10 games of the season before scoring his first of the year last night against Nashville. Despite the slump, Hyman as still getting quality chances at the net. After last night's game, Coach Knoblauch revealed that the team had met with an analytics company that guaranteed Hyman would score that night.

Hyman had an incredible breakout season last year 54 goals, shattering his career high of 36. He's taken off to new heights in Edmonton since being under-appreciated in Toronto, but some fans were worried that he may not be able to keep up the level of production. Hyman was named as one of the biggest regression candidates in the league before this year.

Although he got off to a slow start, Knoblauch's right to show some faith in the player that he'll be able to turn it around and start making good on his opportunities again. Once the Oilers get back into their offensive groove and Connor McDavid returns to the lineup, Hyman will be stationed at the back post again for some great goals in the crease. The analytics back him up that Hyman's effort and chances are there, he just hasn't got the bounces yet.

Despite the slow start and the fact that he may never reach the career high of 54 goals again, Hyman will still be a great scorer on the Oilers this season, and he deserves full belief from Oil Country in his abilities - he's proven it.