Oilers’ Zach Hyman Can Play His Way Onto Canadian Olympic Roster – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

There is a fascinating dichotomy between this year and last year when it comes to Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman and the Canadian men’s hockey team.

Around this time last year, Hyman was considered a safe bet to represent his country at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. But after a slow start to his NHL season, Hyman’s name was nowhere to be found when Hockey Canada unveiled its final roster for the inaugural 4 Nations event.

Now, Hyman is seen as a bit more of a long shot to join Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which takes place in Italy this coming February. But just as easily as he played his way out of a spot on the 4 Nations squad, Hyman could book a ticket to Milan with his play leading up to Hockey Canada’s Olympic roster selection in December.

Hyman Attends Hockey Canada Camp

Roster construction is already well underway for the 2026 Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team. Back in June, Hockey Canada named six players, including Oilers captain Connor McDavid, to its preliminary men’s Olympic roster.

The latest step in the process was the Hockey Canada National Teams Orientation Camp, which took place in Calgary from Aug. 26 to 28. Four Oilers were among the 42 NHL players invited: centre McDavid, winger Hyman, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenceman Evan Bouchard.

Related: Oilers’ Quartet Invited to Hockey Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp

The camp consisted entirely of off-ice activities, but that’s just as well for Hyman, who is still recovering from wrist surgery that brought his postseason to an early end last May.

During Hockey Canada’s camp, Hyman spoke with NHL.com and revealed that he’s not sure whether he will be ready to return to action when the Oilers open their 2025-26 schedule with a home game against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 8.

McDavid Is Key to Hyman’s Chances

Obviously, every game that Hyman is unable to play is a lost opportunity to audition for Hockey Canada. But probably the most important factor for the Toronto native is that whenever he does return to Edmonton’s lineup, he is on the top line with McDavid.

It would be disrespectful to Hyman to say that McDavid is his meal ticket, but there’s no denying that the chemistry Hyman has with the best player on the planet greatly increases his chances of making Canada’s roster.

On makeshift teams with limited preparation time…