After much speculation it was made official yesterday. Zach Hyman is now a member of the Edmonton Oilers. It was speculated about for weeks and now Hyman will go from sharing the locker room with Auston Matthews to Connor McDavid. Hyman had become a fan favourite and he recognized that and took the time to write a very heartfelt open letter to Leafs' fans. Dear Leafs Nation,
February 29th, 2016, is a date I'll never forget.
It was the day of my first ever NHL game and the day I officially became a Toronto Maple Leaf. I'll always remember pausing before putting my jersey on for the first time and reflecting on how special and lucky I was.
Ever since I was a kid my dream was to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. And in that moment, it became reality.
Like most of you, I grew up a Leafs fan. I went to games at the ACC and idolized my favorite Leafs like Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, and Darcy Tucker. I cheered on the team through the exciting playoff runs of the early 2000s and the disappointing years when we didn't make the playoffs.
Because I grew up here, I understood how incredibly lucky I was to have the opportunity to play for the Leafs. I knew that I wasn't just living out my dream but the dreams of all my friends and of every little kid that falls in love with his team.
Throughout my time in Toronto I can undoubtedly say that every time I put on that sweater I gave everything I had. I want to thank all of you for supporting me, motivating me, and believing in me.
The passion that exudes from Leafs Nation is contagious, and its one of the best places in the world to play because you guys care. So thank you for your continued support, thank you for investing yourselves in the team, and thank you for making a Toronto boy's dream come true.
I'm excited about joining the Edmonton Oilers in the next chapter of my life, but I'll always call Toronto home.
Zach HymanWhat do you think of this?
