Toronto Maple Leafs: The tough decision on Zach Hyman’s future

Toronto Maple Leafs: Why Zach Hyman should be a priority to sign

Losing Hyman in free agency would force the Leafs to look at alternatives for a top-six left winger and a top penalty killer. It’s not impossible but the familiarity with Hyman is something the team has to decide whether it’s worth losing.

There is certainly a number the Leafs should be comfortable paying Hyman which should be capped at $4.5 million. That’s a decent pay raise on what his last contract paid and he gets to remain in a familiar situation where he knows he can produce.

Hyman needs to think about whether he will be able to find a similar situation where he is playing with a world-class player like Auston Matthews and isn’t asked to be a primary offensive contributor. If he takes a bigger deal, it’s going to come with higher expectations that he might not be able to fulfill.

In Toronto’s case, there isn’t a reason why they can’t figure out a compromise with Hyman if he really wants to stay. He’s a heart and soul player that brings a style of play that the team doesn’t really have enough of.

He is willing to go into the tough areas and drive to the net for scoring opportunities and he’s been rewarded for it with respectable production. This might be a case where giving an extra year entices Hyman to stay as long as the cap hit makes sense.