I've fallen in love with Zach Hyman

[The Iceman]

From 2015...Dubas was Hyman's advisor @ University and was behind Hyman's acquisition.

A couple more NCAA notes: Michigan senior forward Zach Hyman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16 if not signed by the team that drafted him, Florida. In a bit of a surprise, it sure sounds like he will test the market rather than go directly to the Panthers. In some way, Florida should take that as a compliment because they have so many prospects that the route for young players is now tougher.
You always look for relationships, too. This is purely a guess, but Hyman is from Toronto and his previous “advisor” (no agents in the NCAA, wink, wink) was Kyle Dubas. I could be overthinking it, but what the heck.​

Should the 6’1″, 194 lb, forward hit the market it seems like the Toronto Maple Leafs might have a leg up on the competition.

 

[zeke]

Yup.

The only thing that's changed about Hyman is people's opinion of him.

He's reluctantly made a whole lot of people do a full 180 in that regard.

One tiny teeny other detail changed.

Teeny tiny.

Goals pace:

Yr1: 10
Yr2: 15
Yr3: 24
Yr4: 34


Teensy weeny tiny detail.

 

[The Shadow]

I knew he’d start getting the appreciation he rightly deserves at some point

we may not have seen his best yet

do you remember Marchand when he was younger? He improved year after year.

we haven’t seen the best of Zach Hyman

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yup.

The only thing that's changed about Hyman is people's opinion of him.

He's reluctantly made a whole lot of people do a full 180 in that regard.

Saying Hyman is still a 10 goal caliber player is a pretty big disservice to him. He put in a ton of work to improve and get to be the player he is today

 

[Mickey Marner]

His development trajectory has been extremely steep. He went from arguably the worst finishing top-6 forward who frequently made unforced turnovers to a guy who can make offensive plays while facing the net with an opponent on his back. He's also the only player that has been on the Leafs best line each of the last four seasons.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Was Hyman a Lou trade or a Nonis trade?

At the time Toronto traded for his rights Kyle Dubas and Mark Hunter were the CO-GM's, so it was before Lou was officially almost 1 month later.

Leafs trade McKegg to Panthers for Hyman - TSN.ca

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

He's a good player but if he gets to expensive he's replaceable in fact he probably should be replaced because his style will lead to him breaking down early

 

[Menzinger]

Was Hyman a Lou trade or a Nonis trade?

Neither, it was Dubas.

 

[Menzinger]

Hyman has been a pleasent surprsie

Seems like a guy who would potentially give up a bit of aav to stick with the team. Ideally they're able to resign him

 

[Antropovsky]

Think Babs said that whenever he went to watch Larkin (while still coaching Detroit) he came away most impressed with his teammate Hyman. Seems like Hyman had a lot of fans within Toronto management before being acquired.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Neither, it was Dubas.

Was it ever said that Dubas is the one who made the actual trade, since Mark Hunter was the CO-GM along with him. I know at that the 2015 draft it was Dubas who was in charge of making trades to get extra draft picks, so did that mean prior to the draft he was responsible for the Hyman trade?

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

Was it ever said that Dubas is the one who made the actual trade, since Mark Hunter was the CO-GM along with him. I know at that the 2015 draft it was Dubas who was in charge of making trades to get extra draft picks, so did that mean prior to the draft he was responsible for the Hyman trade?

I don't know what Mark Hunter did at all really. All I know is he had Dubas beat in every area of the job in terms of experience but they seemed to push him out the door. So judging from that he must have impressed them at the job. Meaning he most likely was responsible for the trades since the draft has Hunter written all over it and it was our worst in years besides the obvious first rounder.

 

[saltming]

Yup.

The only thing that's changed about Hyman is people's opinion of him.

He's reluctantly made a whole lot of people do a full 180 in that regard.

I recall lots of posts saying hes luck when he scores. The puck bounces off him. Ugly goals. Can't elevate the puck. Only scores on the empty net.
When he was scoring posters were still calling him and his points trash

 

[Menzinger]

Was it ever said that Dubas is the one who made the actual trade, since Mark Hunter was the CO-GM along with him. I know at that the 2015 draft it was Dubas who was in charge of making trades to get extra draft picks, so did that mean prior to the draft he was responsible for the Hyman trade?

From outsider media reports about the co GM stage - Hunter had control of drafting and scouting, Dubas was focused on the main Leafs squad (and Shanny seemed to get involved here more directly at times ie like the Kessel trade).

Given Dubas' history with Hyman, its safe to say that it was his choice in the trade

 

[LeafsNation75]

From iutsider media reports about the co GM stage - Hunter had control ofndeafring and scouting, Dubas was focused on the main Leafs squad (and Shanny seemed to get involved here more directly at times ie like the Kessel trade).

Given Dubas' history with Hyman, its safe to say that it was his choice in the trade

That sounds correct based on the reporting during that time.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

I think Zach is married bro

 

[Antropovsky]

Hyman is Roberts without physical toughness and the intimidation. They have the same role to their line though.... retrieve puck, put pressure on puck/player create turnovers, and pickup garbage around the net.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Glad to see he’s gotten the vindication he deserves after all those Babcock’s son comments over the years. He’s not a high end skill guy but as long as he’s healthy he’s going to keep advancing as a hockey player and is a fantastic glue guy. If we had 2x more of these guys I believe the work rate on this team would go through the roof.

It's entirely possible the reason he's the player he is now is because Babcock overplayed him so much. Hyman in 2016-2018 definitely was not the player he is now, and he deserved a lot of the criticism he received at the time, and Babcock deserved the criticism for overplaying him. But the difference is that Hyman had the work ethic and hockey IQ to improve into what he is now.

 

[ACC1224]

Hyman is Roberts without physical toughness and the intimidation. They have the same role to their line though.... retrieve puck, put pressure on puck/player create turnovers, and pickup garbage around the net.

I have no problem with Hyman but he’s not in Roberts class.

 

[Stephen]

It's entirely possible the reason he's the player he is now is because Babcock overplayed him so much. Hyman in 2016-2018 definitely was not the player he is now, and he deserved a lot of the criticism he received at the time, and Babcock deserved the criticism for overplaying him. But the difference is that Hyman had the work ethic and hockey IQ to improve into what he is now.

Hyman's offensive game was pretty rough in his first year, but I didn't mind him as much as others because I thought he was a support player on a top line and not quite a top six player. I think his finish has gotten a lot better, maybe that's with the reps like you say, or confidence from getting more and more ice time. He's also physically more assertive and aggressive which is nice to see. In any case he's come a long way. I think back in 2015 we would probably have expected Connor Brown to be where Hyman is. Every step of the way since 2017, Hyman seemed to get better and Brown got worse.

 

[Menzinger]

Hyman's offensive game was pretty rough in his first year, but I didn't mind him as much as others because I thought he was a support player on a top line and not quite a top six player. I think his finish has gotten a lot better, maybe that's with the reps like you say, or confidence from getting more and more ice time. He's also physically more assertive and aggressive which is nice to see. In any case he's come a long way. I think back in 2015 we would probably have expected Connor Brown to be where Hyman is. Every step of the way since 2017, Hyman seemed to get better and Brown got worse.

Id definitely agree that around 2015ish most folks were higher on Brown vs Hyman.

Hymans best trait was that he was able to prpve he could keep up worh the teams star guys. Something that many 2nd tier guys cant do

Edit:typos

 

[LeafsNation75]

Id definitely agree that around 2015ish most folks were higher on Brown vs Hyman.

Hymans best trait was that hebqas able to prpve he could keep up worh the teams star giya. Something that many 2nd tier guys cant soo

I know in 2017 Brown was replaced on Matthews line with Nylander. However maybe there was more hype around him since that year he did score 20 goals himself and I'm sure a lot of that was due to Matthews.

In the end we know that Hyman has become a great player no matter if he's on a line with Matthews or Tavares and he's earned the respect of Leafs fans.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Hyman's offensive game was pretty rough in his first year, but I didn't mind him as much as others because I thought he was a support player on a top line and not quite a top six player. I think his finish has gotten a lot better, maybe that's with the reps like you say, or confidence from getting more and more ice time. He's also physically more assertive and aggressive which is nice to see. In any case he's come a long way. I think back in 2015 we would probably have expected Connor Brown to be where Hyman is. Every step of the way since 2017, Hyman seemed to get better and Brown got worse.

Since Brown was put on the 4th line by Babcock during the 2019 season and only managed 8 goals, 21 assists and 29 points, how much of that didn't help him get his game back on track?

So is it just a case of things would not work out anymore in Toronto and Dubas had to trade him.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Since Brown was put on the 4th line by Babcock during the 2019 season and only managed 8 goals, 21 assists and 29 points, how much of that didn't help him get his game back on track?

So is it just a case of things would not work out anymore in Toronto and Dubas had to trade him.

Ya there was a pretty big increase in Hyman's ice time relative to Brown's due to the leafs depth on RW and lack of depth on LW.

Brown when given more ice time again had a really good season this year including at even strength playing really tough matchups.

Hyman was also very very good and continued his strong season from last year.

 

[Bomber0104]

I recall lots of posts saying hes luck when he scores. The puck bounces off him. Ugly goals. Can't elevate the puck. Only scores on the empty net.
When he was scoring posters were still calling him and his points trash

Yup.

He's made a lot of alleged "experts" eat their words.

"Best 4th liner in the league"