Paul Byron

For the United States District Judge, see Paul G. Byron.
Paul Byron
Born (1989-04-27) April 27, 1989
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Montreal Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
NHL Draft 179th overall, 2007
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2009–present

James Paul Byron (born April 27, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He is currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Byron was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 6th Round (179th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with Buffalo in 2011 before a trade sent him to Calgary.

Playing career

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, 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]

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] Bryon 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]

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 AHL Abbotsford Heat, 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 Abbostsford, the five-foot-nine Byron earned a regular spot in the Flames lineup by playing an aggressive style that impressed 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]

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 Montreal Canadiens.[16]

Personal life

Byron and his wife, Sarah Leblond, have a daughter, Elianna, and a son, Brysen.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
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 — — — — —
NHL totals 200 28 38 66 52 — — — — —

Awards and honours

Award Year
QMJHL
Second All-Star Team 2009 [17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Paul Byron profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  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 (2008-05-13). "Champions crowned throughout Junior A hockey". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  4. ↑ "Buffalo Sabres sign draft pick Paul Byron to entry-level deal". The Hockey News. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  5. ↑ Harrington, Mike (2011-01-23). "Byron gets right to the point in debut". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  6. ↑ "NHL capsules". National Hockey League. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  7. ↑ Lebrun, Pierre (2011-06-25). "Flames trade Robyn Regehr". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  8. ↑ Johnson, George (2012-02-15). "Byron cool as ice on Calgary penalty shot". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  9. 1 2 Sportak, Randy (2013-02-13). "Tough break for Flames' Byron". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  10. 1 2 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 2014-01-01.
  12. 1 2 Cruickshank, Scott (2013-12-23). "Byron grows into role with Flames". Calgary Herald. p. D1.
  13. ↑ "Deadline for player filed salary arbitration today". flamesnation.ca. 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  14. ↑ "Canadiens claim forward Paul Byron off waivers from Flames". National Hockey League. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  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. 2016-02-23.
  17. ↑ 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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