A guy who spent six seasons under the broiler in Toronto, getting roasted for the Maple Leafs’ traditional first-round playoff exits, might want to go somewhere cooler and safer to play.
“First and foremost, we’re both in a Canadian market, two Canadian teams, and with the Stanley Cup not being in Canada for a long time, I think any Canadian team that makes playoffs has that extra pressure from the market.
You want to be in a place that cares and you want to be in a place where when you win, it matters, it means something.
The 29-year-old hadn’t scored more than one in any of his five attempts with the Leafs in the Stanley Cup tournament, which is surprising because the ox-strong Hyman seems built for the playoffs.
“He is a puck protector, someone who gets people on his back and is able to grind teams down in the offensive zone just by keeping his feet moving, by his puck-protection skills,” Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft told reporters on Saturday at the Oilers’ hotel across from the arena here.
The regular season is almost like a trial for the playoffs, and that’s when the real hockey starts.
The Oilers’ rising tide reflects the elevation of a lot of players.