The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Zach Hyman on injured reserve Wednesday because of a “stiff neck,” head coach Mike Babcock said.
Hyman, 33, will miss at least seven days, including the club’s contest Wednesday night against the visiting Calgary Flames.
He hit his head on the glass when he was knocked into the boards by Detroit defenseman Andreas Englund during the second period of the Oilers’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Red Wings on Monday.
“We’re just being extra cautious,” Babcock said. “Originally when you see it, you think, ‘Maybe it’s a head thing,’ and then you find out it’s the neck. So that’s a real good thing. We just thought lineup-wise, we can be extra cautious.”
Hyman has one goal, a minus-1 rating, two penalty minutes and five hits in six games this season. He missed the first six games of the season to nurse an upper-body injury.
For his career, Hyman has 496 points (262 goals, 234 assists), a plus-133 rating, 386 penalty minutes, 318 blocks and 838 hits in 717 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-21) and Oilers (2021-present).
He has an additional 75 points (42 goals, 33 assists) in 106 playoff games.
The Florida Panthers selected Hyman in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Edmonton is hoping to have forward Jason Dickinson (undisclosed injury) return from injured reserve and defenseman Mattias Ekholm (concussion) available for Wednesday’s game.