[News] Flames qualify 6 RFAs. Byron, Galiardi, Eddy, Martin, Roy do NOT receive offers

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

I watched every game Byron played this year. He was very effective for this team.

47 GP, 7 G, 14 A, 21 Pts. in limited ice time. His +6 was second best +/- on the Flames. Just turned 25 years old. 29 takeaways to 13 giveaways. Solid 2 way game. One of our most effective penalty killers. Great work ethic, tenacious puck pursuit, won many battles vs. players much bigger than him. Gritty. A lot of speed. High hockey IQ. Whats not to like about him? Wait till he plays a full season.

I say if the Flames give up on him he will have a good NHL career somewhere else. You'll have to watch for it while you suck back mustard packages at Dairy Queen I guess.

Do you feel Paul Byron is potentially a Core player for this club between now and any time in the next 4 years. Do you feel Paul Byron will play top 6 forward minutes for this club when they come out of this re-build and look to be a contender?

If the answer is YES - then I say IMO opinion you are making a lot of bold leaps based on what we've seen so far with this player.

If the answer is NO or Not Sure - I'd say it's probably a little bit of a stretch to be calling the teams decision to part ways ridiculous. This should be saved for much larger and impacting decisions.

[Enoch Root]

I can't wait to read the thread if/when the Flames sign Byron this summer!

[SHOGUN]

I think the Flames a worse team without Byron imo.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I really can't wrap my head around this decision. At least qualify him and TRADE him if you don't see him in your plans long term. He has some value.

I don't know about that. We are seeing that as soon as a player is given a contract his value tends to decrease a fair bit.

I think Byron can play in the league, but lets face it Calgary was still worse than 26 other teams last year. I don't see him really threatening to crack the top 12 forwards on a team like Boston or Los Angleles.

Now the Flames aren't one of those teams, but at most he might have been worth a 7th round pick to someone.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think the Flames a worse team without Byron imo.

That's a bold statement. Let's see who they add tomorrow before we get ahead of ourselves.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think the Flames a worse team without Byron imo.

Lol let's stop with the ridiculous statements.

[bob-loblaw]

I'm totally fine with Byron not being signed. We have a bunch of centres now, and it's time for someone like Reinhart to step in, or maybe the one Vancouver game 'try out' made them realize they have something in Arnold sooner than later. Plus who knows what they have up their sleeve.

I'm not really surprised by Cundari because even though he's small he seems to try and play the trucu-style of game that they want.

[Monahan23]

Reinahrt was moved to LW and Byron was moved. There is room for both. Burke just told him he's an regular NHLer. Now he doesn't get qualified.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

Reinahrt was moved to LW and Byron was moved. There is room for both. Burke just told him he's an regular NHLer. Now he doesn't get qualified.

People lie sometimes.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think the Flames a worse team without Byron imo.

Maybe, really gotta see who dresses opening night before you can say that one way or another.

[Lanny_McDonald]

A lot of handwringing over Paul Byron. The team will be better with a guy like Reinhart in the lineup in that slot. You could even throw Knight or Hanowski in the mix. The Flames need to get bigger and Paul Byron just had to go to make that happen. If Burke thought Gaudreau was tiny, what did he think of Byron at an inch shorter and 10 pounds lighter? Byron was a good story, but he was a guy living on borrowed time when you look at the number of small players in the system and the philosophy of the team. Flames will be better because of this move. Maybe not immediately, but they will be better as the youngster who takes that spot finds his NHL legs.

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Lol let's stop with the ridiculous statements.

How's that a ridiculous statement? He was one of our best players. Yeah, he's small but he plays a big game, and I doubt here is a better player than him on the market with his cap hit.

[flamesfever]

Byron didn't receive an offer...stupid, stupid, stupid.

[djsFlames]

There must be an eastern team where there's a place for him. Where size isn't as crucial to compete.

I want him to stay, but this is the pacific division. With the size we already have in our lineup, basically every player we bring in needs to be 6' or bigger (at least average), if we plan on competing against the likes of the california teams in the future.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

How's that a ridiculous statement? He was one of our best players. Yeah, he's small but he plays a big game, and I doubt here is a better player than him on the market with his cap hit.

[RyZ]

I dont have a problem with Byron being let go of if it means that a spot opens up for Gaudreau, Baertschi, Granlund or Reinhart. Id rather give those minutes to any one of thos 4 younger guys.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Really surprised that Byron didn't get a QO. Hope he gets re-signed in the summer. He's not competing for a top 6 spot so I don't think the issue of having Cammy, Hudler, Gaudreau and Baertschi should affect his status in the lineup. Those are top 6 guys competing against each other. Byron was an effective 3rd line player for the Flames and I really don't understand some of the comments about size. Yes - he's small but the Flames don't need to get bigger, they need to get tougher to play against. I think most teams would tell you it was tougher to play against Byron than Colborne, DJones or some of our other bigger forwards on most nights. If not with the Flames, he'll catch on somewhere and be an effective 3rd line player.

[Cflames_12.5]

I like Byron as much as the next guy but size does matter in the Pacific division. Flames can't ice Byron, Johnny and Sven. Byron will find a home in the east.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think the Flames a worse team without Byron imo.

Yippeee, McDavid here we come!

[flylock shox]

It seems to me Byron was effective in the role he had, at the size he is.

Seems strange not to qualify him.