The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they’ve extended winger Zach Hyman on a four-year contract.
The average annual value of the contract will be $2.25 million ($2.0M in 2017-18 & 2018-19, $2.5M in 2019-20 & 2020-21). #TMLtalk (2/2)
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) July 5, 2017
Toronto acquired Zach Hyman in a trade for depth forward Greg McKegg in June 2015. After a solid AHL year and a 16-game NHL audition in 2015-16, Hyman made the jump to full-time NHLer this season. In 82 regular-season games—almost all of them on Toronto’s first line—Hyman put up 10 goals (four of them shorthanded) and 18 assists, for 28 points total.
Hyman impressed Mike Babcock with his dogged forecheck, his energy, his workmanlike attitude, and his defensively responsible play. But he also frustrated many fans who expect more production out of a winger playing with star youngsters Auston Matthews and William Nylander. While Hyman’s spot on that line isn’t guaranteed, this deal clearly indicates the organization views him as a long-term complementary piece.
The deal will start this season and end shortly before Hyman turns 29. Hopefully he continues to bring a useful skillset to a winning Leafs’ lineup.
