Paul Byron - The Handless Horseman Returns

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Well, been saying this from day 1. This fanbase goes giddy for Ranheim, nee Lombardi, nee Bouma, Backs, Byron.

Burying a scoring chance is just as important as creating it. These guys have no finish. It's great to see a blocked shot, but I didn't join in on a rebuild to get some stone hand shotblockers.

It's time with a healthy roster, to give these guys a view from the pressbox

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by 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.

There you have it, rebuild complete!

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by 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.

No one's asking him to cash in all of his chances. He should have 2 or 3 more goals based on breakaways alone though, and those kind of goals can make a big difference in game results. They're highly visible plays, of course people are going to comment on them.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Well, been saying this from day 1. This fanbase goes giddy for Ranheim, nee Lombardi, nee Bouma, Backs, Byron.



Burying a scoring chance is just as important as creating it. These guys have no finish. It's great to see a blocked shot, but I didn't join in on a rebuild to get some stone hand shotblockers.



It's time with a healthy roster, to give these guys a view from the pressbox

Wtf, you expect guys like Bouma to be goal scorers?

Who the heck is going giddy for Byron? This whole thread is about how he can't finish.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by DropIt

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

Yes. When you are losing games by one goal missed opportunities are a big deal. A really big deal.

That "ahh schucks, we missed again........but the effort is clearly there" attitude is for the Oilers and Feaster era Flames.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Yes. When you are losing games by one goal missed opportunities are a big deal. A really big deal.

That may be true but the bigger problem is that Giordano and Brodie have been playing their worst hockey of the season. That's the reason why we are losing - if those two played better it would never come down to relying on an energy player for that key goal these last few games. Worrying about why Byron isn't scoring on breakaways shouldn't be at the root of the problems the Flames are trying to solve. It's fine to get frustrated and talk about it but it's not the big reason we are losing, and its something that is out of the team's control.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by heep223

Wtf, you expect guys like Bouma to be goal scorers?

Who the heck is going giddy for Byron? This whole thread is about how he can't finish.

No, it's not. The thread isn't as black and white as that. Most people are rightfully pointing out the other aspects of his game that are positive. Which doesn't diminish the frustration when he gets so many breakaways and doesn't convert on them.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Yes. When you are losing games by one goal missed opportunities are a big deal. A really big deal.

That "ahh schucks, we missed again........but the effort is clearly there" attitude is for the Oilers and Feaster era Flames.

How many breakaways goals do you expect from him? 7 out of 7? 6 out of 7? 5 out of 7? Sorry but not even elite players score that much on their breakaways, let alone a 4th liner. The fact he's been on 7 in 31 games is pretty remarkable.

Players have been missing wide open nets, fanning on shots and hitting posts, why don't we hold it against the other players that miss opportunities? Because I'm definitely sure it adds up to more than 6 missed goals

[Finger Cookin]

People here do hold it against other players that miss opportunities.

[SebC]

I suspect that it would be easier for Byron to learn a few breakaway moves (that raise the puck, please) than it would be to have anyone else create the breakaways that Byron does.

[smoothessence]

Originally Posted by SebC

I suspect that it would be easier for Byron to learn a few breakaway moves (that raise the puck, please) than it would be to have anyone else create the breakaways that Byron does.

He has other moves in his arsenal that we've seen so far this season.

Top cheese backhand against Buffalo where Enroth has to make a great save.

Rips a wrister up top against Arizona on another one.

Let the captain speak for a minute here...

Originally Posted by Mark Giordano

"We just don't want him to get any more breakaways," teammate Mark Giordano said with a chuckle. "He gets breakaways, he doesn't bury them. But 2-on-1s, 3-on-2s, he's money. We'll just let him pull up or something next time he gets a break."

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...726/story.html

Calm down everyone.

[Finger Cookin]

Nm, posted in error

[dakeyras]

I have nothing against Phaneuf, but I've always liked this image. Originally saw it right after we acquired Byron from Buffalo.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Well, been saying this from day 1. This fanbase goes giddy for Ranheim, nee Lombardi, nee Bouma, Backs, Byron.

Burying a scoring chance is just as important as creating it. These guys have no finish. It's great to see a blocked shot, but I didn't join in on a rebuild to get some stone hand shotblockers.

It's time with a healthy roster, to give these guys a view from the pressbox

I dont think Ive ever seen this before. Used to then/than and queue/cue, but not nee for nay.

[Stay Golden]

Byron does a great job creating breakaways but everytime he misses it shifts momentum to the opposition and definitely gives their goalie a confidence boost.
I would like the coaches to tell him to change the goalies angle and just shoot.
They know he is apt to get more breakaways moving forward so work on his wrist shot and release on breakaway drills.
Build up Byron chances to score and his confidence.

[Enoch Root]

The Flames are one of the fastest, if not the fastest team in the NHL. Byron is one of the primary reasons for that. His energy and quickness make him a catalyst for their attack.

If he was a sniper, he wouldn't be making $600k a year, or whatever it is.

And it's not just his speed, he's a good PKer, hits, forechecks like mad, and - most importantly IMO - he can sub in on LW, C or RW on any of the 4 lines. He is the perfect 13th forward.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames are one of the fastest, if not the fastest team in the NHL. Byron is one of the primary reasons for that. His energy and quickness make him a catalyst for their attack.

If he was a sniper, he wouldn't be making $600k a year, or whatever it is.

And it's not just his speed, he's a good PKer, hits, forechecks like mad, and - most importantly IMO - he can sub in on LW, C or RW on any of the 4 lines. He is the perfect 13th forward.

And he is indeed on pace for 10-15 goals and 20-30 points, which sure as hell is not bad counting numbers for a bottom 6 player. I like Byron.

[stamped05]

Paul Byron is the Kevin Lavalee of his era.

[Mister Yamoto]

One of the things that the early 80's Flames team did to become contenders was to get rid of Kevin Lavallee, Gino Cavallini, Steve Bozek, Charlie Bourgois etc. And then replace them with true bonafide NHLers.

The Flames made some wonderful subtractions on D last summer. Butler. Smith. SOB. And the positive results are showing on the ice. The next step is to do the same thing at the forward position. There are at at least 2 or 3 forwards on the Flames who are good hockey players, but not true NHL level players.

Even the early 2000's Flames teams that were just about to become a good team (even though none of us really saw it coming) had to get rid of the Clark Wilm, Jeff Shanz, Aaron Gavey, Jaimie Wrights of the team.

In other words, If a player isn't likely good enough to make all of the other 29 teams in a tryout, he shouldn't be playing for the Flames.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

One of the things that the early 80's Flames team did to become contenders was to get rid of Kevin Lavallee, Gino Cavallini, Steve Bozek, Charlie Bourgois etc. And then replace them with true bonafide NHLers.

The Flames made some wonderful subtractions on D last summer. Butler. Smith. SOB. And the positive results are showing on the ice. The next step is to do the same thing at the forward position. There are at at least 2 or 3 forwards on the Flames who are good hockey players, but not true NHL level players.

Even the early 2000's Flames teams that were just about to become a good team (even though none of us really saw it coming) had to get rid of the Clark Wilm, Jeff Shanz, Aaron Gavey, Jaimie Wrights of the team.

In other words, If a player isn't likely good enough to make all of the other 29 teams in a tryout, he shouldn't be playing for the Flames.

That's a pretty broad brush you're using right there. It's fairly easy to argue that several of the players you named were actual bonafide NHL players with pretty good careers.

Not disagreeing in principle though, and I would have agreed about Byron a year ago. However he's taken some strides since then, and bottom six players scoring points at a 0.3-0.4/game clip are staples on every single team in the league. Considering the effort Byron puts in every night he might very well be a part of the future here, and there may also very well be a spot available for him on several other teams.

The guys that fit the profile you're describing right now is in my mind Brandon Bollig, Brian McGrattan, Deryk Engelland and Raphael Diaz.