Edmonton Oilers veteran winger Zach Hyman was placed on the injured reserve on Wednesday with a stiff neck, head coach Mike Babcock confirmed.
Babcock added that the news was “way better” than expected after Hyman was forced to leave Monday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings after hitting his head against the glass.
Hyman took a clean hit along the boards from Red Wings defenceman Andreas Englund and smacked the back of his head off the glass. Hyman stayed down for a few minutes after being shaken up by the hit.
The 34-year-old Toronto native has one goal over six games this season, his sixth in Edmonton.
This marks a second IR stint this season for Hyman, who missed six games after suffering an upper-body injury against the Vancouver Canucks in the opening game.
Last season was an injury-plagued one for Hyman, who missed the first 19 games of the campaign while recovering from off-season wrist injury, and missed five games in April with another injury. He finished the 2025-26 season with 31 goals and 52 points in 58 games.
Hyman is in the sixth season of a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with an AAV of $5.5 million.
The Oilers sit second in the Pacific Division with an 8-2-2 record as they get set to take on the rival Calgary Flames, who have won four straight games, at home on Wednesday.