March 20 Practice - Ramo starts against BJs

[sureLoss]

Looks like Byron is close:

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
#Flames injured Paul Byron skating with the rest of the team today. Jooris and Shore also out there.

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Looks like Byron might stick with the main group. Rest of the team has come on. Poirier, Jooris, Shore also in blue.

more updates as they come

[sureLoss]

Lines:

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames forwards:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Granlund-Colborne
Ferland-Stajan-Bollig
Byron-Jooris-Shore-Poirier

Brodie was missing (assume maintenance):

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
TJ Brodie is the only player not practicing today. As a result, #Flames defence pairings are a mish mash.

[RyZ]

I wouldn't put Byron back in anyway (or resign him in the off season). Let him have a cushy seat in the press box the rest of the way.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I wouldn't put Byron back in anyway (or resign him in the off season). Let him have a cushy seat in the press box the rest of the way.

Rather have Byron than Raymond, especially in the bottom 6

[AcGold]

Disagree, breakaway per game players are kind of rare. Let Johnny and Schlemko teach him. Byron is perfect for Tampa kind of teams, then just slot Bollig back in for the Bostons and St. Louis'.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Rather have Byron than Raymond, especially in the bottom 6

Was just going to post this exact thing.

Younger, cheaper, just as fast, and despite the size difference much tougher to play against and not nearly as soft.

[AC]

I still think Byron has an unproportionally large impact on this team (and specifically our momentum and play style) given his role.

[Imported_Aussie]

The thing with Raymond though is that he has those spurts of offence, and if the top line slackens offensively, secondary scoring has to come from somewhere.
He is frustrating, but a hard guy for the coach to drop.

[Moneyhands23]

Byron and Raymond can rotate in the press box until one of them gets hot.

[flamesfan55]

seeing as though the Flames are fine without him since he has been gone I would rather they just move on from Byron.

[Gaskal]

I like Byron but I think youngsters like Shore, Jooris and even Ferland lately are making him very expendable. More size, more finish.

[GioforPM]

I agree that Byron > Raymond in every aspect except in the slot. Raymond is tough to move though, and Byron is an RFA I believe. The bottom 6 ranks are getting really crowded, and something is going to have to give. Assuming Ferland and Poirier are going to want in, Granlund, Shore, Bollig, Byron, Stajan, Jooris, Raymond, Colborne, and either Bennett or Backlund all want spots (unless Bennett plays top 6 wing). And if Bennett plays wing, Bouma or Jones drop down. The you have guys like Arnold, Wolf, Reinhart and so on wanting to know when they get a shot.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by flamesfan55

seeing as though the Flames are fine without him since he has been gone I would rather they just move on from Byron.

You've got to be kidding.

[calgARI]

Byron is one of the most effective 4th liners in the league. Consistently creates scoring chances, brings energy, etc. He is an important player on this team. Will be an important shot in the arm down the stretch.

[killer_carlson]

I think Byron is best in small doses as the 13th forward, pushing players for their spots and getting them to raise their game. If not, then he takes their spot until they pull back ahead of him. And on occasion, he isn't the guy who gets the call as it goes to a young call up (which puts the pressure on Byron to maintain the 13th spot)

So I see him fitting in and out of the lineup, but not a regular if that makes sense.

And for the love of God, please tell me someone has had him work on his breakaway moves while hurt.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by flamesfan55

seeing as though the Flames are fine without him since he has been gone I would rather they just move on from Byron.

That Gio guy too. Flames have been fine without him, maybe it's time to move on

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Disagree, breakaway per game players are kind of rare. Let Johnny and Schlemko teach him. Byron is perfect for Tampa kind of teams, then just slot Bollig back in for the Bostons and St. Louis'.

Maybe Johnny, but I don't know if Schlemmy has ever had a breakaway. That SO move of his - every other player on the ice will have caught up by the time it's over.

Maybe hire Fleury as a breakaway coach. He was pretty deadly.

[stone hands]

I will take Byron's momentum impact on a shift by shift basis over Raymond's ineffectual glencross-esq break-in, stop at the ringette line and pass to the D(at least Raymond usually has a look first) play 10/10 times

for those saying that he gives us points...its not as significant as you'd think

Byron is 1 point behind Raymond in points with 10 more games played. I'll take what Byron gives on a night by night basis over 10 more points

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I agree that Byron > Raymond in every aspect except in the slot. Raymond is tough to move though, and Byron is an RFA I believe. The bottom 6 ranks are getting really crowded, and something is going to have to give. Assuming Ferland and Poirier are going to want in, Granlund, Shore, Bollig, Byron, Stajan, Jooris, Raymond, Colborne, and either Bennett or Backlund all want spots (unless Bennett plays top 6 wing). And if Bennett plays wing, Bouma or Jones drop down. The you have guys like Arnold, Wolf, Reinhart and so on wanting to know when they get a shot.

I think the guys that really sticks out here (and not in a good way) is Stajan and Raymond... I think it will come down to Stajan vs Granlund vs Bennett, Raymond vs Ferland...

[Finger Cookin]

The Flames haven't missed a beat without Byron for the last 14 games -- and 10 of those same games have been without Giordano.