How long is the leash on Byron? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Poe969 · 01-30-2015, 06:50 AM

My only issue with Byron is that whenever he gets a breakaway and doesn't score, it builds momentum for the other team and gives them even more confidence. He does everything else right but he has horrible offensive skills. He helps defensively but his offensive game is counterproductive... the other team builds confidence and the rest of the Flames seem to get deflated after he eventually doesn't score on yet another breakaway. IMO, even though his offensive blunders seem to deflate the team, when the team sees him in the defensive zone give everything he has it inspires them even more. I do think they need to find a way to help him find a way to score but he's too valuable in our zone to not play.

flambers · 01-30-2015, 07:00 AM

Byron has to generate offense to be effective, when I saw who was on the break away.

My first thought, dang he won't score.

Its time for Byron to sit for a game in the press box.

Resolute 14 · 01-30-2015, 07:01 AM

Damned if you do, damned if you don't with Byron. His defensive awareness, forechecking, tenacity and ability to read the play are all excellent, and traits we require. But those same factors make his inability to score so bloody obvious. So while one kind of wants to try someone else in his spot in the lineup, it is likewise hard to say that he should be pulled out of it.

FlamingLonghorn · 01-30-2015, 07:05 AM

What team has 4th liners that are scoring more than Byron? I looked at the Ducks, Blackhawks, and Kings 4th liners and most of them in fact have less points than Byron. I don't understand the hate at all. The question is whether he is an effective 4th liner and that is not judged on goals scored. So who should be on the 4th line that will set the world on fire? If you have a guy scoring 20 goals on the 4th line he would get pushed up chart and paid more than a 4th liner.

flambers · 01-30-2015, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

What team has 4th liners that are scoring more than Byron? I looked at the Ducks, Blackhawks, and Kings 4th liners and most of them in fact have less points than Byron. I don't understand the hate at all. The question is whether he is an effective 4th liner and that is not judged on goals scored. So who should be on the 4th line that will set the world on fire? If you have a guy scoring 20 goals on the 4th line he would get pushed up chart and paid more than a 4th liner.

Problem with Bryon, he is not a typical 4th liner.

Bryon is a really tough player to figure out, where do the Flames place him...

I don't see the Flames keeping him to occupy a 4th line spot.

saillias · 01-30-2015, 07:12 AM

Hudler miffed on that chance from Gaudreau in the 2nd(?)

Raymond missed high and wide countless times.

Johnny shoots a flubber right into Dubnyk's glove.

Monahan misses open net on a backhand.

Erick Estrada · 01-30-2015, 07:23 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a multiple year contract offer from the team in the offseason so I guess you know my answer to the question. The guy is one of Hartley's favorite players, a solid contributor everywhere but the score sheet and you need those guys. One of the aspects of the Flames game that has enabled them to exceed expectations is team speed. They are simply a faster team than a lot of teams. Taking their fastest player out of the lineup would be the beginning of the erosion of what's enabled the team to be competitive ahead of schedule. The day guys like Byron start getting replaced with slow skaters like Mike Richards is when the Flames take a step back in the rebuild as they have to remake their identity from fast hardworking team to just hardworking team.

FlamingLonghorn · 01-30-2015, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flambers

Problem with Bryon, he is not a typical 4th liner.

Bryon is a really tough player to figure out, where do the Flames place him...

I don't see the Flames keeping him to occupy a 4th line spot.

He plays gritty and tough. Blocks shots and plays good D. What do you want from him to stay on the 4th line? Or is the fact that he knows how to create breakaways a negative against him? The only knock on him is his size and i don't think he gets pushed around.

Resolute 14 · 01-30-2015, 07:31 AM

I think you accidentally hit on the problem, FlamingLonghorn. With all of Byron's other tools, he shouldn't be a fourth liner. He is restricted to that role because of the obvious, critical flaw in his game.

FlamingLonghorn · 01-30-2015, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think you accidentally hit on the problem, FlamingLonghorn. With all of Byron's other tools, he shouldn't be a fourth liner. He is restricted to that role because of the obvious, critical flaw in his game.

But why is it a problem that he is a fourth liner. He is a good one. Yes if he could bury his chances he would be 2nd/3rd liner making 3-4 mil a year. Instead he makes sub 1 mil and plays effectively on the 4th line. Another stat for Byron, He leads the Flames in takeaways and is #6 in the league.

flambers · 01-30-2015, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

He plays gritty and tough. Blocks shots and plays good D. What do you want from him to stay on the 4th line? Or is the fact that he knows how to create breakaways a negative against him? The only knock on him is his size and i don't think he gets pushed around.

He is ineffective against the big physical teams.

Flames need a player who can cause grief with the dman etc. (i.e. really physical)

Bryon is more of a 3rd liner, who should generate offense at times.

He has speed, play's the PK, gritty but has terrible hands.

ForeverFlameFan · 01-30-2015, 07:50 AM

I think Byron should get Bouma's minutes... He'd probably be more effective at it.

Erick Estrada · 01-30-2015, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flambers

He has speed, play's the PK, gritty but has terrible hands.

He's been snake bitten this year but the guy has scored in the AHL so it's not like he's always had stone hands. IMO it's just a mental thing and once he gets the next one things will sort itself out. He's never going to be a 20 goal guy but he should be a 10-15 goal bottom 6 player which is all you can ask.

saillias · 01-30-2015, 07:57 AM

How about Brandon Bollig's leash. His signature play is skating over the redline and dumping in the puck before going off for a line-change... because he just spent his shift being hemmed in our zone.

savardandjokinen · 01-30-2015, 08:14 AM

The last time I can recall Byron scoring on a breakaway was late November/early December where he took a shot and that breakaway came from a beautiful pass from Sven.

GioforPM · 01-30-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

The last time I can recall Byron scoring on a breakaway was late November/early December where he took a shot and that breakaway came from a beautiful pass from Sven.

So he scored because he got the pass at the blue line from Sven and not from, say, Brodie or Russell? Is that what you're saying?

Or is it that he shot, lile some posters have already noted, one of whom posted a video?

the_only_turek_fan · 01-30-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a multiple year contract offer from the team in the offseason so I guess you know my answer to the question. The guy is one of Hartley's favorite players, a solid contributor everywhere but the score sheet and you need those guys. One of the aspects of the Flames game that has enabled them to exceed expectations is team speed. They are simply a faster team than a lot of teams. Taking their fastest player out of the lineup would be the beginning of the erosion of what's enabled the team to be competitive ahead of schedule. The day guys like Byron start getting replaced with slow skaters like Mike Richards is when the Flames take a step back in the rebuild as they have to remake their identity from fast hardworking team to just hardworking team.

My only issue with Byron is his size.

How many little guys can you have? Byron, Hudler, Gaudreau, Baertschi, etc..

Teams like Anaheim and LA are going to eat them up.

Vinny01 · 01-30-2015, 08:20 AM

I think this is the last season for Byron in calgary. He could easily have 10+'goals right now but is insanely snake bitten. He seems to have a fan in Hartley but with kids pushing for spots I believe he will be somewhere else next season

the_only_turek_fan · 01-30-2015, 08:21 AM

Besides the size, Byron is awesome. One of my favourites.

OzSome · 01-30-2015, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bax

This thread is ridiculous, Byron gets paid as a fourth liner and contributes much more than that. Yeah, it's frustrating that he isn't scoring on his chances, but at least he's using his speed out there. He does everything right and is always giving 100%

I knew when Byron did not score on that breakaway, CP will explode. Yes I understand the frustration on not capitalizing the chances but I just don't understand the hate. The guy is playing on the 4th line and still getting chances and working his butt off. Unlike the others who were signed to score goals but just wasting spot like Mason Raymond. That is the guy that frustrates me. I would rather see someone getting a breakaway a lot even though not capitalizing on it than someone who is just killing the offensive possession all the time. Oh yeah Byron is probably 3 times cheaper than Mason.