The Calgary Flames have wrapped up all their arbitration cases after last week’s signing of 26 year old Paul Byron. Originally coming to Calgary in the deal that sent Robin Regehr to Buffalo, Byron has consistently brought speed and tenacity to the Flames lineup every night he is on the ice.
Playing a majority of time on the Flames 4th line and 2nd penalty kill unit, he has been a great player to watch develop over the past couple seasons, much like line-mate Josh Jooris.
Byron has all of the pieces that this Flames team is built around in a 5’7″, 150 lbs frame.
If you watched this season you will likely you would likely wonder “if he is so much fun to watch how come I don’t remember hearing about him very much?” To answer that you just need to look at Byron’s games played column and see he only played 57 games (6g-13a-19p).
Byron was playing quite well for the flames through the first part of the season really stepping up while the team was coping with not having the likes of Joe Colborne, Mikael Backlund, and Matt Stajan for a good portion of the first half of the season.
After a good first half Byron found himself out of the line up on Feb 18th with a day to day injury that turned into an injury reserve assignment and then season ending surgery.
After the Flames season was over it was revealed that Byron had surgery for a sports hernia, required a wrist scope procedure, and had recently recovered from a broken toe.
Calgary Flames
Combine his injuries with some awful fortune on breakaways last season and Byron was a leading candidate for the hard luck award. Although to keep consistent with Byron’s can’t win for losing themed season he would have lost out to Olli Maatta of the penguins.
Maatta only played 20 games last year due to cancer, mumps, and a season ending upper-body injury.
Why is his $900k, one year contact worth writing about? You just need to watch a game that Byron is in and you’ll understand. Paul Byron can fly past opponents with his speed up the wing, annoy them with persistent checking, and amaze you with his heart.
Byron has all of the pieces that this Flames team is built around in a 5’7″, 150 lbs frame.
Starting off as a young throw-in piece in the 2011 Regehr trade, Byron has earned his ice time and has plenty left to give at only 26 years old. With any better luck this season he will be someone worth watching that doesn’t play in the top 6.
Have a look at these breakaways and think if he gets these chances next year the results have to be different.
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