Zach Hyman reveals the true reason why he left the Toronto Maple Leafs

Ahead of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, former Toronto Maple Leaf and current Edmonton Oiler Zach Hyman reflected on his decision to leave Toronto in the summer of 2021. In an interview with NHL.com, Hyman said:

The Maple Leafs, struggling with salary cap constraints, had to make tough decisions, including letting Hyman leave for nothing.

Despite his desire to stay in Toronto, the team couldn't offer him the contract he deserved. The Edmonton Oilers, who had shown consistent interest, became his new home. Hyman signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with a cap hit of $5.5 million per season—a bargain given his performance. He has set career highs in goals each of his first three seasons in Edmonton, including scoring 54 goals in 80 games during the 2023-24 regular season.

In six seasons with Toronto (2015-21), Hyman scored 91 goals and 107 assists for 198 points in 377 regular and postseason games. Since joining the Oilers, he has scored 145 goals and 114 assists for 259 points in 281 regular and postseason games.

Hyman's playoff performance has been equally impressive, with 28 goals in 46 games for the Oilers, leading this year's postseason with 14 goals—the most since Brayden Point in 2021 and just five away from the single playoff year record of 19.

Hyman is one of seven former Maple Leafs players in the Stanley Cup Final, six of whom are on the Oilers. Years later, he has proven to be a valuable piece that the Leafs miss dearly, while being a key player for a contender now just four wins away from the Stanley Cup.

As seen on thehockeynews
‘It Wasn't About The Money': Oilers Forward Zach Hyman Explains His Departure From Maple Leafs Ahead of Stanley Cup Final