How long is the leash on Byron?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

More than a 20 game difference and Sven still has more points.

AHL Vs. NHL not to mention their roles on the respective teams

Raymond has more NHL goals than Sven has AHL in less games

I just get sick of this idea that Sven and others are getting screwed some how because the GM is making sure certain guys are in the lineup

[FireItUp]

Originally Posted by AC

Its frustrating that he's so snake bit, but he's one of our best momentum drivers IMO.

He's a surprisingly important part of our team and I'd rather see Bollig, Stajan, Raymond, and Jones scratched ahead of him.

I approve this message.
I'm not a big Bryon supporter but at least he puts himself in situations to score, has speed and brings energy. Bollig, Stajan and Raymond(since injury) haven't really done much of anything...why not let the kids come in and see if they can steal some jobs. EARNED, NEVER GIVEN...right?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FireItUp

I approve this message.
I'm not a big Bryon supporter but at least he puts himself in situations to score, has speed and brings energy. Bollig, Stajan and Raymond(since injury) haven't really done much of anything...why not let the kids come in and see if they can steal some jobs. EARNED, NEVER GIVEN...right?

Which kids have EARNED anything? thats my point

nobody is kicking in the door

[mile]

He's easily replacable and I expect him to be replaced by the up and coming young players we have in the system over the off-season.

Right now though, Hartley isn't going to start making him a regular scratch. Wouldn't mind to seeing him sit for a game or two, but ultimately he doesn't deserve to be scratched, especially if you consider the identity and values of this team.

Weird that some people are more vocal about wanting Byron out of the lineup than someone like Bollig. They're both 4th liners who can't score. But at least Byron is more consistent at creating turnovers and energy. Even when he isn't scoring, it's at least generating momentum.

So he works hard and has nothing to show for his efforts. Using that reasoning Bollig, Raymond, Jones, Stajan, and Bouma should all be scratched too then. Especially since on some nights the effort isn't even there for some of them in the first place. But since Byron can't score on breakaways he should be first guy scratched. Okay then.

If you want to give someone's ice time to a younger player in the lineup, it should and more likely will be Bollig and Raymond before Byron.

[Wastedyouth]

Byron isn't easily replaceable though. As rough as his shooting percentage is, he is still one of the better possession players on the team. When he is on the ice, against fairly decent competition, the team regularly outshoots the opposition.

He is doing a good job, eventually the bounces will go his way.

[codynw]

I actually yelled "god dammit" when I realized it was Byron on the breakaway there. I knew he wasn't going to score. It's getting ridiculous. I know he's not meant to put up huge points, but no goals in 28 games, when he's had like 100 breakaways in that same time frame?

[FireItUp]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Which kids have EARNED anything? thats my point

nobody is kicking in the door

and which of Bollig, Stajan and Raymond have EARNED anything? My point is if they ain't doing anything productive or kicking the door they're already in maybe you sit them for a couple games. Some people call it a wake up call, maybe you've heard of that?.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Byron isn't easily replaceable though. As rough as his shooting percentage is, he is still one of the better possession players on the team. When he is on the ice, against fairly decent competition, the team regularly outshoots the opposition.

He is doing a good job, eventually the bounces will go his way.

If he does stay in Calgary past this season, he'd be a great and reliable 13th forward. I wouldn't mind at all.

My biggest fear (probably unfounded) is that the Flames phase out players like him and Bouma entirely for more skill or more established forwards, and they lose the work ethic that is defining our 3rd/4th lines like after the 04 cup run. We definitely need more skill there, but I was thinking that Jones/Bollig/Raymond would be the ones we cut loose before anyone else. Ultimately though with Hartley on the bench and the culture of the team now firmly established, I'm less worried about this happening.

I admit, because of his season last year I overrated Byron a bit. He had 21 points in 47 games and did everything right. I thought he had consistent 30-40 point potential along with good PK and forechecking abilities, Gallagher-lite possibly. His lack of scoring touch limits him to a good 4th line guy, but he is more of what we need.

[circle]

I think even though Byron has troubles putting the puck in the back of the net, you have to consider the positives that he brings on a consistent basis:

1. Consistently getting scoring chances
2. Plays the PK
3. Always is physical
4. Plays OT with Monahan regularly

All of this for 600K. How many players for 600K bring that much to the table? I certainly cannot think of anyone off the top of my head...

[Magnum PEI]

He's one of 3 forwards that consistently hit the opposition hard. He's also 2nd in pk time for forwards. Sucks that he cant score on the breakaway but he is a good bottom 6 guy.

[Heavy Jack]

Byron drives positive puck possession when on even strength, is arguably our best PK guy ahead of guys like Bouma and Backlund, generates energy through laying the body, gets himself into grade a scoring chances with bottom 6 pairings - Stajan and Bollig the past 10 or so games - but can't bury his chances... yet.

I think of a more physical Marty St.louis when I see Byron play which may come across as a homer comparison but when looking at Marty's first 3 seasons - two of which were shorter one being much shorter than the other - its easy to see a similarity start to appear:

Marty's first 3 years at the Nhl level

Year 1 : GP 13 G 1 A 1 PTS 2 PIM 10 +2 (Calgary)
Year 2 : GP 56 G 3 A 15 PTS 18 PIM 22 -5 (Calgary)
Year 3 : GP 78 G 18 A 22 PTS 40 PIM 12 -4 (Tampa)
Total : GP 147 G 22 A 38 PTS 60 PIM 44 -7

Paul's first 5 years at the Nhl level:

Year 1: GP 8 G 1 A 1 PTS 2 PIM 2 E
Year 2: GP 22 G 3 A 2 PTS 5 PIM 2 +3
Year 3: GP 4 G 0 A 1 PTS 1 PIM 2 -2
Year 4: GP 47 G 7 A 14 PTS 21 PIM 27 +6
Year 5: GP 49 G 5 A 9 PTS 14 PIM 8 -5
Total: GP 130 G 16 A 27 PTS 43 PIM 41 +2

He needs to be a point per game guy for the next 17 games to match Marty, which I admit is definitely not likely but Byron's game is so mature defensively and he is managing to get himself in all the right situations offensively I think the Flames would be fools to let him go. I hope they put him in Raymonds spot on the PP personally, we should be looking at the length of his leash instead of Byron's IMO.

[Vedder]

Byron-Stajan-Anyone Else has the potential to be a pretty solid bottom 6 line. Byron is a versatile guy on a cheap contract.

Bolig has ZERO goals this year, gets paid twice as much, plays less minutes in less situations. The only excuse for keeping him around is some subjective measure of "team toughness". Outside of that one hit on Kopitar it's hard to think of many situations where he has moved the dial for the team.

[A Shot Wide]

Not long enough to score on a breakaway.

[crapshoot]

Byron will break out of this slump eventually, and when he does, it will be glorious. Would have been a great time to do it on that damned breakaway though.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by AC

Its frustrating that he's so snake bit, but he's one of our best momentum drivers IMO.

He's a surprisingly important part of our team and I'd rather see Bollig, Stajan, Raymond, and Jones scratched ahead of him.

Absolutely there is accountability that has to go to other players as well.

However there will come a point with Byron where enough is enough.

[doctajones428]

I actually said, out loud "I bet CP will flip out again" when he didn't bury that breakaway.

He hits, gets in corners and isn't afraid to go in the dirty areas, at 5'7". He plays half a foot taller than he is.

I could care less if he goes 1 for 1000 on breakaways, he's a third/fourth line energy guy and fills the role perfectly.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Many parts of his game are good.

He should schedule some alone time with goalies and the tutelage of guys who have finish.

If Hartley excused him from every other practice in exchange for a commitment to spending that time working on his finish he could be deadly. The team plays tight games and he has far too many unfruitful breakaway opps

[Alberta_Beef]

Byron will be in the lineup as long as he is contributing in other ways and is not a liability. Guys like Raymond and Bollig are one trick ponies and so when they are not doing what they are good at they are a liability. Byron on the other hand still does everything else pretty well; he is solid defensively and on the PK, he tries to be physically involved, he generates scoring opportunities, the only thing he isn't doing is burying the puck.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Byron will be in the lineup as long as he is contributing in other ways and is not a liability. Guys like Raymond and Bollig are one trick ponies and so when they are not doing what they are good at they are a liability. Byron on the other hand still does everything else pretty well; he is solid defensively and on the PK, he tries to be physically involved, he generates scoring opportunities, the only thing he isn't doing is burying the puck.

+1

Byron may not have scored, but neither did the other 11 players. The question is what else did everyone do.

[dissentowner]

Sure, Byron has hands of stone but for the price and the other things he brings on the 4th line he is fine. This thread should have been "How do we get rid of Raymond". That guy is beyond terrible, weak as hell, plays just die on his stick...how in the hell did he score 20 goals last year? I think the Flames should stick him on waivers, not that anyone would bite.