When the Maple Leafs acquired Zach Hyman in a move that sent struggling American Hockey League scorer Greg McKegg to the Florida Panthers in 2015, they likely didn’t expect much. The University of Michigan senior didn’t have a breakout year until he was set to graduate, posting 54 points while playing on a line with freshman star Dylan Larkin. It looked like a move designed to add depth. If Hyman became a full-time NHL option, the Leafs were laughing.



After beginning with the Toronto Marlies as the team’s sixth-leading scorer (lower if you account for points per game) with 37 points in 59 games, Hyman found his way into good favour with head coach Mike Babcock. When the Leafs dumped veterans on short-term contracts at last year’s trade deadline, they promoted a group of AHLers to the big club to close out the season. Hyman played well.



Hyman has since become a staple of Babcock’s top-nine forwards, used primarily with Auston...