Is Paul Byron a NHL calibre player

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

he isn't gritty enough to play on the 4th line.

He's 4th on the team in hits. Between Bollig and Engelland


*edit: and leading the team in takeaways. Not related to the grittiness, but I'm in the 'yes he's an nhl player' camp.

[Vulcan]

Yeah, he's an NHL player. He should slot in as a 12, 13, or 14th forward. We've had lots worse players holding down those slots over the years. One think in his favour, besides his versatility, is he's always healthy while we never seem to have a fully healthy line up to drop him down to popcorn row.

[Finger Cookin]

I went back to look at his career stats, and was actually surprised to see that in the AHL in 67 games he scored 26 goals in 10-11. Since then: 100 AHL games, 18 goals. 126 NHL games, 16 goals. What happened to his hands? He's probably a more complete two way 200 foot player now - but that's still quite a drop.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

He's 4th on the team in hits. Between Bollig and Engelland


*edit: and leading the team in takeaways. Not related to the grittiness, but I'm in the 'yes he's an nhl player' camp.

I just meant he isn't exactly putting fear into the opponents players or making them worry about keeping their head up.

He tries though, I'll give him that.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I think any decent team should have better options.

I'd call him a niche player. He's good enough to play a regular shift without the coach having to worry about him. Whether he's a 13th forward or just a depth guy is more of a team depth thing.

I agree that any deep team should have better options, but there's always going to be rebuilding teams. Byron is a good guy to have around on that kind of a team. On a top-heavy team that could use a guy that brings some spark and work ethic, I think Byron would also do just fine.

I wasn't honestly very excited about us re-signing him last summer, but I think he was important for in setting the tone for us early in the season. The contract is fair for both sides, and I hope he finds another team after this season.

[Wolfman]

He's lucky he works hard is all I have to say...otherwise. Doesn't belong in the NHL.

[killer_carlson]

I think it's time for us to move on. We have the depth to see his spot replaced, but I don't think we'll see that until the offseason.

I think Byron is this decade's version of Scott Nichol, with a little more speed and a little less grit. Still a gritty pain in the arse. Low cost.

However, I have no problem if Byron sits in the press box for a week or two after the break until he remembers how to put the puck in the net.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes, Byron is an NHL player. His speed , defensive play, and penalty killing are all excellent.

The Flames PK is one of the worst in the league and is really been the major achilles heel for this team in a lot of ways this year. I have a hard time believing anyone's pk performance has been excellent under these circumstances.

I feel he's currently a useful player on this team but there are other that can probably outperform him in his role.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

The Flames PK is one of the worst in the league and is really been the major achilles heel for this team in a lot of ways this year. I have a hard time believing anyone's pk performance has been excellent under these circumstances.

I feel he's currently a useful player on this team but there are other that can probably outperform him in his role.

It takes about a half dozen good PKers to have a strong team PK. Backlund and Stajan are also key PKers and were both out long term at the same time. That contributed largely to the ineffective PK and isn't Byron's fault.

Look at their PK last year - Byron was a huge part of that as well. And on Backlund's first game back from injury, Byron set him up for a shorty.

Calgary has given up 26 shorthanded goals this year. They had given up 6 in the first 3 or 4 games. Since then, then have been pretty good.

[868904]

Yes he is.

He has a very particular set of skills that are useful.

Any line he is on automatically has a forecheck due to his speed and his compete for the puck. Whether that line can sustain any pressure is another matter.

He is also a pk threat and in 4 on 4 OT.

He is a perfect 13 forward. If he were bigger he'd be the perfect 4th liner. Until the other "regulars" start playing with consistency and intensity, Byron will continue to play. It's up to the "better" players to force Byron to the press box, not Hartley and I haven't seen 12 regularly better players than Byron.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It takes about a half dozen good PKers to have a strong team PK. Backlund and Stajan are also key PKers and were both out long term at the same time. That contributed largely to the ineffective PK and isn't Byron's fault.

Look at their PK last year - Byron was a huge part of that as well. And on Backlund's first game back from injury, Byron set him up for a shorty.

Calgary has given up 26 shorthanded goals this year. They had given up 6 in the first 3 or 4 games. Since then, then have been pretty good.

sorry, it took me a minute to catch what you are saying.

Calgary has given up 26 goals while on the PK this year.
Calgary has given up 2 goals while on the PP this year.

[Gaskal]

Byron is an NHL player.


An NHL scorer though? Ehhhh....

[Husky]

Byron is a good tweener player but as soon as a young guy is ready for a full time spot, Byron should be sent down.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think it's time for us to move on. We have the depth to see his spot replaced, but I don't think we'll see that until the offseason.

I think Byron is this decade's version of Scott Nichol, with a little more speed and a little less grit. Still a gritty pain in the arse. Low cost.

However, I have no problem if Byron sits in the press box for a week or two after the break until he remembers how to put the puck in the net.

Yeah, I find them both holding down similar spots and Nichol went on to play 662 games and I sometimes regretted Sutter letting him go. Could the same happen to Byron when he's gone? Probably not as we have a lot more depth these days.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Calgary has given up 26 shorthanded goals this year. They had given up 6 in the first 3 or 4 games. Since then, then have been pretty good.

Just for the heck of it, I went back and looked up the PK numbers for the first 4 games in order to calculate the PK numbers since.

Game 1: 2 for 3
Game 2: 1 for 3
Game 3: 3 for 5
Game 4: 2 for 2

So first for games: 8 kills in 13 PK situations, 61.5%
Since: 73 kills in 94 situations, 77.7%

The first four games got us in the hole, but the PK still hasn't been great since then. 13th in 5-on-5 scoring ratio, but 20th in PP efficiency and 26th in PK efficiency. Special teams need to get better.

[/tangent]

[OzSome]

The problem is your expectations on Paul Byron. You expect him to score a lot of goals so when he doesn't, you get dissapointed. Like you said, he is not a top 6 players and you are correct. He is a third line player who is capable of playing defensively and also contributes offensively once in awhile. Byron's strength is his speed and most of the time he uses that to his advantage. The opponents are aware of his speed so they back off a little. The guy had some breakaway and I understand you are dissapointed he couldn't bury them. Most of those breakaways are because of their group's defensive plays(takeaways). It means they prevented the other team in getting some scoring chances. I am sure he will bury some of those chances soon.
So, yes Paul Byron is an NHL calibre player.

[Jiggy_12]

Paul Byron is pretty good in his role. Definitely has found a nice little niche on this team after a few years of it looking like it would fall the other way.

[Erick Estrada]

Threads like this illustrate why Flames fans really aren't much different than Oilers fans. They thought that guys like Greene and Stoll were plugs and weren't needed because their skilled guys were going to take them to the promised land. Moral of the story is that you need good role players that aren't sexy but effective depth and solid special teams contributors. Can't just ice a lineup of skilled players and expect them to be able to effectively play all the roles.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

What a stupid thread. Byron is NHL calibre and he deserves some recognition for his hard work and passion. He's been a very important energy guy for us. He was never billed to be a top scorer. We knew he was a forechecking hard working 4th liner. So what he's missed 10 break aways this season and his play has slipped recently. He doesnt have a future on this team but he's a workhorse who knows his role and more than pulls his own weight.

Move on

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Threads like this illustrate why Flames fans really aren't much different than Oilers fans. They thought that guys like Greene and Stoll were plugs and weren't needed because their skilled guys were going to take them to the promised land. Moral of the story is that you need good role players that aren't sexy but effective depth and solid special teams contributors. Can't just ice a lineup of skilled players and expect them to be able to effectively play all the roles.

Your lack of respect for other posters is astounding. Almost every post in this thread is in support of Byron as a role player.