Future for Byram, Lohrei, Zellweger

[SAS]

Hello all. I was curious as to everyone’s thoughts about these 3 young dmen: Byram, Lohrei, Zellweger. What could each of them become? Who has the brightest future?

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[SyZyGY]

Haven't seen enough of Byram and Zellweger but I think a good comparison for Lohrei would be Dougie Hamilton

 

[hurdemz]

Byram had some of the worst advanced stats last season of any defender.. whatever that says about him. I havnt seen much of any of these guys play to make any comparisons.

 

[Nick Lang]

I really like Zellweger. He's got an innate ability to know where to be and to make really smart and high level plays in the offensive zone. He's not tremendous defensively but he knows where to be and that takes care of the majority of plays for him.

 

[ameselare]

Don't really have any comps but here's my thoughts.

Byram - He's shown incredible flashes but needs to play in a system that works for him and needs to stay healthy to develop consistency in his game. A lot depends on his health, if he plays well with Dahlin long-term (Dahlin playing on the right), and how Ruff and the Sabres coaching staff can work with him and the team. I remember the first couple games he played with the Sabres, I think on it was on the PP and he was skating around trying to make plays and his teammates seemed dumbfounded lol.

Zellweger - Great skating & IQ. There's been a trend of smaller, high draft pick defensemen not working out lately but when it works, it works. He's listed as 5'9" but I'm not sure if he's actually smaller than that or is truly 5'9". I mention this because I know many people who have met Quinn Hughes out and about here in Van and he is definitely shorter than his listed height of 5'10". Not saying he'll turn into Hughes, just that being 5'9" won't limit him if he can put the other pieces together.

Lohrei - I've watched him the least out of these three but he really impressed me during the Bruins playoff run this year, he was one of their best players during some of those games. I think he'll be successful playing in the Bruins system.

 

[wetcoast]

I really like Zellweger. He's got an innate ability to know where to be and to make really smart and high level plays in the offensive zone. He's not tremendous defensively but he knows where to be and that takes care of the majority of plays for him.

Zellweger probably has the highest potential at this point and injuries have taken the shine off of Bryam who I still think will be a very solid dman every team would like in the playoffs.

I'm also a huge fan of Lohrei and he is the most physical and punishing of the 3 but has less top end potential.

Zellweger can be a top pairing PPQB type of guy but limited defensively.

Bryam can be a solid top pairing or second pairing guys who does everything and can be a workhorse in the playoffs.

Lohrei will be a solid physical second pairing guy who bring some offense but who can't be the difference maker on a top paring.

 

[MNRube]

Three 2nd pair guys. None of them project to be the same type of D, but all should end as 3Ds or 4Ds ideally

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

All such different dmen... I honestly love Lohrei's potential though.. huge fan of him

 

[VanillaCoke]

Lohrei seems like a stud in the making and the Hamilton comparison is pretty accurate, has the highest ceiling.

Zellweger more of an offensive defenseman who should rack up points with the ducks young stars, better skating higher iq Gostisbehere.

Byram I'd have last on the list just because of injuries alone, but could also have the highest offensive potential if he reaches it, I'd just bet on the other two reaching theirs more likely.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Zellweger really is short as opposed to truly small, he's more of that "built like a fire hydrant" type. Reach will always be lacking but I don't think he'll struggle physically like a true "small" Dman, nor am I anywhere close to labelling him as just an offensive specialist at this point. He can be a genuinely good top 4 D in all situations, and become about as good defensively as you'll get from a short defender. The smarts and skating are there, he's got some grit to him as well.

I think back to Vatanen, definitely more of a specialist when he first broke in, but he actually became of the Ducks best PKers. Great mobility, and strong IQ for reading lanes etc. Zell is already stronger and a bit more explosive at a young age.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Lohrei seems like a stud in the making and the Hamilton comparison is pretty accurate, has the highest ceiling.

Zellweger more of an offensive defenseman who should rack up points with the ducks young stars, better skating higher iq Gostisbehere.

Byram I'd have last on the list just because of injuries alone, but could also have the highest offensive potential if he reaches it, I'd just bet on the other two reaching theirs more likely.

Yeah, Hamilton is the best play style comparison for Lohrei with Lohrei maybe being a touch more physical.

He and Carlo could be a fun and effective pairing. 6'5 and 6'6 with one being a premier shut down guy and the other being an offensive guy. But really Lohrei is probably destined for McAvoy's pair

 

[KeyserSoze81]

I think Byram is destined to lose value on the Sabres as a weirdly utilized spare part before moving on to another team in a year or so, where he can rehab his career (and likely win another cup). He doesn't fit anywhere on the defense. His metrics were Dahlin were stupid, high event hockey that tilted the ice in the wrong direction. So he is probably destined as a 2nd or 3rd pairing defenseman, with either Henri Jokiharju or Connor Clifton as a partner. Byram's agent should be put on seppuku watch.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Hello all. I was curious as to everyone’s thoughts about these 3 young dmen: Byram, Lohrei, Zellweger. What could each of them become? Who has the brightest future?

All will end up as 2nd pair defenseman.

 

[Fantomas]

Lohrei could be a complementary first pairing dman and he's already being penciled in for that role, the question is whether he can stick there. His offensive upside is limited though.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Byram is such a fascinating case. He's largely been a massive disappointment his entire NHL career. But he was also brilliant for the 2022 Cup run.

There's clearly the potential for a great player but I'm not sure he's actually going to end up making the adjustments to his game that are needed for him to be successful.

I'm also really not sure if Buffalo is a very good place for him either.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Funnily enough, I own all 3 in a fantasy league I'm in. But I won't speak in fantasy terms.

Byram and Lohrei have legitimate top pair potential if everything goes right. It's unlikely that everything goes right, but these are 2 guys trending in different directions. Will be fascinating to see how Byram does in Buffalo this season after a hot start and a disappointing end to the season, esp. with the coaching change.

Lohrei may have been pushed down the depth chart but it wouldn't surprise me to see him still play himself into a consistent top-4 position for the Bruins. Much like Nemec in NJ with Pesce, I think Lohrei will push Zadorov to the 3rd pair more often than not.

Zellweger is my favourite of the 3 because he's the most unique. His potential is sky-high if everything clicks but he will always be limited because of his size. Likely more of a #2/3 but should put up higher offensive numbers than the other 2, if given the opportunity.

 

[I am Bettman]

Lohrei could be a complementary first pairing dman and he's already being penciled in for that role, the question is whether he can stick there. His offensive upside is limited though.

He’s an offensive defenseman, how is his offensive upside limited when that’s the main component to his game?

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

With the Bruins D, I'm going to guess Lohrei will be taking over PP1 fairly quickly. He's really the only guy on the backend that has good dangles/hands. McAvoy had a chance to cement his place last year and was pretty meh as a PP QB.

Byram, hope his injury trouble is behind him. He can become a very very good Dman. Buffalo may be a bad spot for him, cuz Buffalo....but also hope this is the year the Sabres turn the corner!

Really only watch Ducks hockey when they play the Bruins, so can't really comment on Zellweger.

 

[wintersej]

I think Lorhei projects as Dougie without an elite shot. That shot is a big part of Dougie’s game, though, so will be interesting to see how a player like that impacts the game. He also has a young Hamilton’s defensive ability, so will be interesting to see if that can develop.

How Zadorov fits in the Bruins system (which I think will seriously play to his strengths) and how Lorhei projects can really swing the Bruins D group between “good” and “top of the league”. Will be interesting to see.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Of the three I think Zellweger has the best weighted odds/expected value in terms of combined floor and ceiling. Byram has the highest absolute ceiling but all those concussions are a huge concern for his long term development.

As a Habs fan it is annoying as f*** that Loheri is actually good. He really impressed me in the playoffs this year, in a perfect world there's theoretically top pair upside but I think he ends up as a long term 2nd pair D with Carlo and runs their PP1 once Zadorov starts to drop off a bit. Don't really buy the Dougie Hamilton stuff but I was extremely impressed with his poise as a rookie this year.

 

[Kazcram]

Lohrei could be a complementary first pairing dman and he's already being penciled in for that role, the question is whether he can stick there. His offensive upside is limited though.

Way wrong on this part IMO . Thats actually his upside and many bruins fans are hoping to see him QB pp1 in boston .

 

[FONZIE]

Remember when the Bruins picked Lohrei in the second round of the draft and none of the experts even knew or had anything to say about him? The all sort of "moved on" from that pick