The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently on a great run, but things might get a bit tougher in the coming weeks since they just lost their center, Zach Hyman. According to a press release from the Maple Leafs, Hyman suffered an ankle injury on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils and will be out for a minimum of three weeks.
Zach Hyman (ankle sprain) will be out a minimum of three weeks.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 21, 2018
Zach Hyman managed to finish the game against the Devils but felt that something is wrong with his ankle afterward. The MRI on Thursday ended up showing that he has an ankle sprain.
“That’s obviously unfortunate. We didn’t know for sure (about the injury) because he doesn’t complain about nothing,” – said Toronto’s coach Mike Babcock. “And he kept playing anyway.“
Hyman was an important piece in Toronto’s game this season, playing in the top three alongside John Tavares and Mitch Marner, and contributing with 15 points, seven goals and eight assists, in 32 games he played so far. It will now be up to Swedish winger Andreas Johnsson to step in and try to replicate his production.
After being selected 123rd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Zach Hyman opted to stay in college and get his degree with the University of Michigan. In 2015, he declined to sign with Panthers, who then traded his rights to Toronto Maple Leafs.
After sharing his time between Maple Leafs and their AHL affiliate in 2015-2016, Hyman managed to make a case for himself next season and become a part of the team’s regular rotation. He played a total of 180 NHL games in his career, scoring 29 goals and contributing 45 assists.
