Paul Byron - The Handless Horseman Returns

[DropIt]

Is it really a big deal that a 4th line 'energy' player isnt cashing in on all his scoring chances?

He contributes in more ways than just points.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Byron has 5 goals, 5 assists for 10 points in 31 GP

Raymond has 5 goals, 2 assists for 7 points in only 13 GP

I'll give you that Byron adds great energy, but at the end of the day hockey is a results oriented business and Raymond has produced similar numbers in 42% of the games.

Again, I like Byron, but he has to start producing.

Raymond's point production compared to games played is certainly higher but those stats don't tell the full story. You have to look at the roles these guys are expected to play. Byron is 3rd-4th line energy player who plays on the pk and uses his speed and physical play to create energy. He hits, seems to have good puck possession (I don't have the stats to prove it - just basing it on what I've seen) and is a very good forechecker. Even on the PP - teams are realizing that they have to respect his speed and forechecking. There are quite a few games where I have seen Byron's line come in after a few bad shifts and changed momentum. I have yet to see that as often from Raymond.

Should he have a few more goals? I agree - definitely - he should have put away a few of those breakaway and 2 on 1 chances. I don't think hands are his problem though. He's got good hands and showed that with his moves but the finish hasn't been there for him.

Raymond's stats are deceiving. He has actually only produced in 3 games this season. 3 points against Edm, 3 against Wpg and 1 against CBJ. If the choice came down to Raymond or Byron on the team - I would take Byron over Raymond because I think Byron is a better fit for the role he plays on the team and what I would expect of him. I agree - it's a small sample size but at this point I'd prefer Byron.

[DOOM]

He needs to sit in the press box for a bit.

Cant believe we sat Bouma last night.

[killer_carlson]

Bryon has to start burying those chances. Otherwise we should be giving his icetime to players who will.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, it was funny for a while that he would get break away after break away and not score.

Now it's just irritating.

Still love him as a player, but bear down already.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Raymond's point production compared to games played is certainly higher but those stats don't tell the full story. You have to look at the roles these guys are expected to play. Byron is 3rd-4th line energy player who plays on the pk and uses his speed and physical play to create energy. He hits, seems to have good puck possession (I don't have the stats to prove it - just basing it on what I've seen) and is a very good forechecker. Even on the PP - teams are realizing that they have to respect his speed and forechecking. There are quite a few games where I have seen Byron's line come in after a few bad shifts and changed momentum. I have yet to see that as often from Raymond.

Should he have a few more goals? I agree - definitely - he should have put away a few of those breakaway and 2 on 1 chances. I don't think hands are his problem though. He's got good hands and showed that with his moves but the finish hasn't been there for him.

Raymond's stats are deceiving. He has actually only produced in 3 games this season. 3 points against Edm, 3 against Wpg and 1 against CBJ. If the choice came down to Raymond or Byron on the team - I would take Raymond because I think Byron is a better fit for the role he plays on the team and what I would expect of him. I agree - it's a small sample size but at this point I'd prefer Byron.

I was agreeing with you until "If the choice came down to Raymond or Byron on the team - I would take Raymond because I think Byron is a better fit for the role he plays on the team and what I would expect of him"

Typing error?

[MrMastodonFarm]

I like Byron but he'll be one of the first guys pushed down and out of the line up as we (continue) to add depth.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Bryon has to start burying those chances. Otherwise we should be giving his icetime to players who will.

Nobody else is getting those kind of chances.

I would like to see him generate a few more points 5 on 5.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I was agreeing with you until "If the choice came down to Raymond or Byron on the team - I would take Raymond because I think Byron is a better fit for the role he plays on the team and what I would expect of him"

Typing error?

Yes my bad....you're right . It should have read I would take Byron over Raymond.

[lostintokyo]

If Bryon scored on even 50% of the breakaways he's had this year, he would be on pace for 20+ goals. Expectations are too high.

There is a reason why he went to UFA and came back to the Flames for minimum salary without any other takers last year.

I think he brings more than people give him credit for.

[lostintokyo]

If Bryon scored on even 50% of the breakaways he's had this year, he would be on pace for 20+ goals. Expectations are too high.

There is a reason why he went to UFA and came back to the Flames for minimum salary without any other takers last year.

I think he brings more than people give him credit for.

[mile]

Inability to score on breakaways isn't a valid reason to scratch Byron, especially considering the other positives he brings. He's an energy player, and good one at that. When the time comes that he gets outplayed by a number of guys in an energy role, then he will go. How does he go from having an amazing stretch, including the night against San Jose not too long ago to some writing him off as a fringe NHLer like some did in the Summer (and before that)? Hartley knows that he is one of our top 9 forwards every night, he isn't going to get pushed out anytime soon. I would really like to see Bollig sitting in press box regularly or get placed on waivers, so we know for sure we are icing the best lineup possible.

I don't mind if Byron sits in the press box for one game, but he certainly is the type of player I want on my 3rd/4th lines as a regular. People think it's easy to find suitable bottom six players and yet from 2006 onwards the Flames have struggled to piece together a 3rd and 4th line that competes as hard as the likes of Byron, Bouma, and Jooris are right now. Like after 2004, losing players like these could hurt the team more than one thinks. They've tried square pegging fringe 2nd liners and signing established players to fill these roles but have resulted in more failures than successes. I know we have great depth in the farm right now, but we should wait until they have proven themselves over a good stretch of time before deeming any else replaceable.

Also: I absolutely hate the Lombardi comparison, other than speed and breakaways Bryon is better more aspects of the game and is more consistent(maybe not in terms of scoring but in terms of compete, and he is simply way more effective).

[troutman]

Even the best only score on 1/3 of breakaways.

No sure thing.

[nik-]

I don't even get excited when he gets a breakaway anymore

[GioforPM]

We need a guy almost as fast as Byron to trail him don the ice and bury the rebound.

[Rollin22x]

I think the fact that he gets these awesome breakaways helps the team and makes opponents consider the threat when he's on the ice. They can't sit back and say he never scores. He will score sooner than later. Until someone else gets as many (seems like a lot to me for Byron) and actually scores, he's making the team better in my view.


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[flamesfever]

I'm all for getting bigger as a team, however not at the expense of the main ingredients of skill, chemistry and character. And I think that Byron possesses all of those attributes. I don't think Byron has to worry about his future in the league. If we don't appreciate him and act accordingly, some other team will.

It seems that the people who would choose to drop or trade Byron, are the ones who side with the mindset of Burke or Treliving. They should bear in mind the players they have acquired to date, for the sake of becoming bigger and/or more truculent, includes Colborne, Raymond, Bollig, Engelland, and Diaz. IMO Byron is more valuable to the team than anyone of them.

I'm sure if Byron suddenly connected on the next two breakaways, those same people above would be suddenly singing the praise of Byron.

[dammage79]

A couple of other posters have said, I've said it and believe it, Byron is Lombardi 2.0.

Seriously though, I cannot count how many break aways Byron has had this year but the number is close to or past ten. 1 for 10 we'll say on break away chances is frustrating.

Defensively Byrons been a great little spark plug out there, motor never quits. Offensively, 10 points right now is amazing but I never really expected much from him this year in that department. But it would be awesome if he could bury 20% of those chances instead of only 10% .

This is how I feel when he misses those glorious chances:

[PeteMoss]

Lombardi 2.0 is a good asset when he's making $600,000.

He's the lowest paid guy on the team. Makes less than Diaz who couldn't even get a NHL contract this off-season and came here on a tryout.

Its not like if you scratch him someone else is going to get all these breakaways. The one yesterday he generated completed by himself.

[heep223]

Breakaways/shootouts are definitely something that can be worked on. I'll bet you he's going to start scoring soon.