Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Sure is. I am and was a big fan of Byram but 50 games of him in a Sabres uniform doesn't magically get rid of all the concerns I've had with him in the past. He has played exactly one season close to 82 games and while I'm rooting for the guy (seriously, you have no idea how much I want him to succeed) he's potentially a few injuries away from being a former shell of himself. He's also had a lot of concussion issues and if more of those happen I wouldn't bet on him hitting his potential.
Of course, at this point, we don't know if any of things will ever happen again. Just a possibility. A little more dangerous with a player who has had so many in his short career though.
On the ice, I agree that he's a great PP QB and is a strong puck mover in general. He absolutely is a great piece to have. However he isn't a defensive stalwart. He lacks consistency in that department. Of course, he's young. He's also coming up for a new contract. Buffalo and Utah share a lot of the same problems. Having too many offensive D and not enough stay at home guys who shut down offense especially well is one of them. Utah has Sergachev and Durzi along Valimaki (who is arguably not even a top 4D) and to a lesser degree Marino, all PMD guys with varying defensive ability.
Buffalo has Power, Dahlin, and Byram. Samuelsson arguably.
These two teams are not good fits for a trade involving defenseman with each other.
Actually Byram, depending of circumstances, is a 1/2 D. He will run PP 1 and play 25 minutes on most clubs.
Right. But he's not beating out Sergachev on Utah right now, which is what this whole discussion is about. I also don't see him beating out a lot of D-men on a lot of rosters, but I will concede that he is probably better this season than I have thought. I just value a #1D label very highly, to me there are teams without a #1D. Byram would be a great asset to get, even on a team like Utah that has a logjam at RHD already, but trading 3 players for one is a huge risk, especially with players like Crouse and Maccelli.
Byram for Crouse? Sure. Byram for Maccelli? Sure. Byram for Kesselring+ Sure, why not. Byram for Cole+? f*** it, why not.
Byram for Crouse, Macelli, and Cole? Hell no.
I'm not even advocating that the Sabres should trade him, but Utah just isn't a good trade fit regardless. I'd love to get him on Seattle who has much less depth and could probably afford to trade prospects or vets out, but I also think he has less value than most Sabres fans do, and that's fine. Sometimes a fit just isn't there. I'm not insulting the guy, being a #4D at 23 is a very good achievement, and I think he's above that, I just don't think he's close to being a bonafide #1D currently.
