As the Edmonton Oilers get set to begin their training camp, it appears they will do so without Zach Hyman — for how long, however, is still unclear.
General manager Stan Bowman said he has no update, nor does he have a timetable, on the winger's recovery from a wrist injury, but told reporters on Wednesday that he's "not worried."
"He's not going to miss much time, if he misses any," Bowman said. "I'm not worried about Zach Hyman."
The 33-year-old fractured and damaged ligaments in his wrist during the post-season, for which he underwent surgery.
Hyman himself later confirmed he won't be ready for Day 1 of training camp, but feels he is progressing "really, really well," and said he's resumed skating, just not yet with the team.
"I've had major surgery before, with the knee. Whenever you set a timeline or a date, you often get disappointed if you don't hit that date," he continued. "You tell people what the date is, and if the date comes and you're not ready for that date, then it's disappointment. For me, internally with the group, we have little two-week blocks, milestones, that we check off and that we hit. Right now, we are progressing very well."
He suffered the injury during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars while getting the puck out of his zone and being caught by a hit from Mason Marchment in the neutral zone.
Hyman dropped his stick immediately and went to the locker room while holding his right arm.
The now-fifth year Oiler played in 73 games last season, scoring 27 goals and 44 points with seven game-winners.
