Paul Byron
Byron with the Calgary Flames in 2011
Born (1989-04-27) April 27, 1989 (age 34)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
Montreal Canadiens
NHL Draft 179th overall, 2007
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2009–2022

James Paul Byron (born April 27, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and Montreal Canadiens. Byron was drafted by the Sabres in the sixth round, 179th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut with Buffalo in 2011 before a trade sent him to the Flames.

Playing career

Amateur

A native of Ottawa, Byron first played junior B hockey with the Ottawa West Golden Knights in 2005–06.[1] He moved up to major-junior the following season with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Following a 44-point campaign in 2006–07, the Buffalo Sabres chose to select him with their sixth round pick, 179th overall, at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He remained in junior in 2007–08 where he improved to 68 points in 52 games for the Olympiques. Byron scored 32 points in 19 playoff games – second only to teammate Claude Giroux's 51 points – to help lead Gatineau to the President's Cup championship and a berth in the 2008 Memorial Cup.[3] He played a third and final season in the QMJHL in 2008–09 where he scored 99 points in 64 games and was named a second-team all-star.[1]

Professional

Buffalo Sabres (2009–11)

Byron signed a three-year contract with the Sabres on June 1, 2009, only a few hours before Buffalo would have lost his rights.[4] He was assigned to the Sabres's top minor league affiliate, the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2009–10 season. He played the entire season in Portland, scoring 33 points in 57 games, and spent the majority of the 2010–11 season there as well, improving to 53 points in 67 games.[1] Byron earned a recall to the NHL during the season and made his NHL debut on January 22, 2011. He scored his first NHL point, an assist on a Tyler Myers goal, in a 5–3 victory over the New York Islanders.[5] He scored his first goal two nights later in his hometown against the Ottawa Senators.[6]

Calgary Flames (2011–15)

A draft-day trade on June 25, 2011, sent Byron, along with Chris Butler, to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Robyn Regehr, Aleš Kotalík and a draft pick.[7] He spent the majority of the season with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL, but earned several recalls to Calgary. On one such recall, he scored on his first career penalty shot in a 5–1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.[8] Byron's 2012–13 season was marred by injury as he missed over a month of play due to a shoulder injury.[9][10] He spent the majority of the season with Abbotsford, where he recorded 15 points in 38 games.[11] He was recalled to Calgary in mid February, but suffered a broken hand early in his first game of the season with the Flames.[9] He played an additional three games following his recovery and recorded an assist.[10]

After beginning the 2013–14 season in Abbotsford, the five-foot-nine Byron earned a regular spot in the Flames line-up by playing an aggressive style that impressed head coach Bob Hartley: "The size of the heart is much more important than the physical size. Here's a guy who plays like he's six-foot-two, six-foot-three. He's not avoiding traffic."[12]

Montreal Canadiens and retirement (2015–2023)

Following the 2014–15 season, Byron became a restricted free agent under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Calgary Flames made him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights, and on July 5, 2015, Byron filed for Salary Arbitration.[13] On the eve of the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Byron was acquired off waivers from the Flames by the Montreal Canadiens on October 6, 2015.[14] The decision was motivated in part by a fan-made YouTube video showing numerous examples of Byron missing breakaway shots, which showcased his speed to Montreal's scouting staff.[15] On February 23, 2016, Byron signed a three-year contract with the Canadiens worth a total of 3.5 million dollars.[16] During the 2016-17 season, Byron recorded career-highs in goals with 22, assists with 21 and total points with 43, finishing second on the Montreal Canadiens in goals.

On September 22, 2018, Byron signed a four-year, 13.6 million-dollar contract extension with the Canadiens lasting until the 2022–23 season,[17] after having yet another 20-goal season with a struggling Canadiens team in the 2017–18 season. On October 1, after Shea Weber was named captain of the Canadiens, Byron was named an alternate captain, along with Brendan Gallagher.[18]

Byron began to play through hip pain for a number of years, culminating in having to take nine games off during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season. He had been placed on waivers three times during that season in what the team insisted was strictly a measure to save money under the salary cap.[19] Byron received a cortisone injection to allow him to return for the final two games of the regular season and the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.[20] In the first game of the Canadiens' round one series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Byron scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway where he was tripped by opposing defenseman Rasmus Sandin but made the shot from his knees. The Montreal Gazette observed that "the goal will be on highlight reels for years to come."[19] The Canadiens lost the next three games of the series and were on the brink of elimination, by which point Byron's hip pain had returned, and he willed himself to play what "could be your last game of the year. You just got to grind through it, push through it, give everything you have." However, the Canadiens would go on to win the next three games to take the series, beginning a deep run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. Byron played the entire time, saying that "the more the adrenaline kind of hit, the more you got into playoffs, it was like the pain and everything just started to disappear." The Canadiens lost in the Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning, four games to one.[20]

Following the Finals, Byron opted to undergo left hip surgery, and missed the first half of the 2021–22 season.[20] After returning to the lineup amidst a historically poor season for the Canadiens, Byron played his 500th game in the NHL on February 17, 2022, scoring a goal in the team's 3–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.[21] He played twenty-five games, being sidelined three times with other injuries, to his frustration.[22] These health problems continued into the 2022–23 season, with his left hip again preventing him from skating.[23] On October 11, the Canadiens placed Byron on long-term injured reserve.[24] He did not play in the final year of his contract, continuing to suffer from hip pain that affected his daily life, including his ability to play with his children.[25] Byron used the time to observe team operations, and said that he hoped "to be part of the team moving forward and transition into a different role."[26]

On September 20, 2023, Byron officially announced his retirement, transitioning into a player development role in the Canadiens' front office.[27][28]

Personal life

Byron and his wife Sarah Leblond have a daughter and son together.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Ottawa West Golden Knights EOJHL 33 20 23 43 33 7 3 8 11 4
2006–07 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 68 21 23 44 46 5 5 1 6 2
2007–08 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 52 37 31 68 25 19 21 11 32 12
2008–09 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 64 33 66 99 32 10 2 14 16 4
2009–10 Portland Pirates AHL 57 14 19 33 59 4 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Portland Pirates AHL 67 26 27 53 52 12 2 5 7 6
2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 39 7 14 21 40 8 1 3 4 2
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 22 3 2 5 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 38 6 9 15 38 — — — — —
2012–13 Calgary Flames NHL 4 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 23 5 13 18 4 — — — — —
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 47 7 14 21 27 — — — — —
2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 57 6 13 19 8 — — — — —
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 62 11 7 18 11 — — — — —
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 81 22 21 43 29 6 1 0 1 0
2017–18 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 20 15 35 23 — — — — —
2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL 56 15 16 31 17 — — — — —
2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 29 4 6 10 4 10 1 3 4 6
2020–21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 5 11 16 12 22 3 3 6 10
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 27 4 3 7 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 521 98 110 208 139 38 5 6 11 16

Awards and honours

Award Year
QMJHL
Second All-Star Team 2009 [29]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Paul Byron profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  2. ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Ahrens, Janette; Buer, Greg (2011). 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 116.
  3. ^ Holland, Brad (May 13, 2008). "Champions crowned throughout Junior A hockey". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Buffalo Sabres sign draft pick Paul Byron to entry-level deal". The Hockey News. June 1, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  5. ^ Harrington, Mike (January 23, 2011). "Byron gets right to the point in debut". Buffalo News. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "NHL capsules". National Hockey League. January 25, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Lebrun, Pierre (June 25, 2011). "Flames trade Robyn Regehr". ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  8. ^ Johnson, George (February 15, 2012). "Byron cool as ice on Calgary penalty shot". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Sportak, Randy (February 13, 2013). "Tough break for Flames' Byron". Calgary Sun. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Thomas, Rob, eds. (2013). 2013–14 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Hockey Club. p. 53.
  11. ^ "Paul Byron player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Cruickshank, Scott (December 23, 2013). "Byron grows into role with Flames". Calgary Herald. p. D1.
  13. ^ "Deadline for player filed salary arbitration today". flamesnation.ca. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  14. ^ "Canadiens claim forward Paul Byron off waivers from Flames". National Hockey League. October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  15. ^ Engels, Eric (November 14, 2016). "Canadiens hot start fuelled by savvy buy-low moves - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  16. ^ "Canadiens agree to terms on a three-year contract extension with forward Paul Byron". canadiens.com. February 23, 2016.
  17. ^ "Canadiens sign Paul Byron to 4-year contract extension". sportsnet.ca. September 23, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  18. ^ Share-Cohen, Brandon (October 1, 2018). "Weber Named Captain of Canadiens". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Cowan, Stu (March 22, 2021). "Game-winning goal by Canadiens' Paul Byron vs. Leafs one to remember". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Cowan, Stu (January 29, 2022). "Canadiens' Paul Byron looking forward to playing without pain". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  21. ^ Basu, Arpon (February 18, 2022). "The reintroduction of joy into the Canadiens' hockey lives is important and should not be discounted". The Athletic. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  22. ^ Cowan, Stu (April 21, 2022). "Byron, Price gain strength from family amid trying season". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  23. ^ Godin, Marc Antoine (October 5, 2022). "For Canadiens' Paul Byron, LTIR is becoming a real possibility". The Athletic. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "Canadiens recall Arber Xhekaj, place Paul Byron on long-term injured reserve". Sportsnet. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  25. ^ Greig, Kelly (April 14, 2023). "Habs looks to the future as disappointing season comes to an end". CTV News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  26. ^ Cowan, Stu (April 19, 2023). "Canadiens' Paul Byron has probably played his last NHL game". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Paul Byron announces retirement". NHL.com. Montreal Canadiens. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Byron, Paul (September 20, 2023). "A letter from Paul Byron". Montreal Canadiens.
  29. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 284. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.

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