KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Byram the next Kevin Connauton confirmed
LD Bowen Byram - Vancouver Giants, WHL (2019, 4th, COL)
- Thread starter Alberta tough
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Byram the next Kevin Connauton confirmed
TryamkinPleaseReturn
Rapidly Shrinking Cult
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landy92mack29
Registered User
For me Byram is more dynamic than Provo as he's more agile and reads when to jump into the play better. Provos shot was a little better at the same age but other than that every offensive edge goes to Byram. You don't score 24 goals as a dman without being special
Stefan Elliott scored 26 and 31 in back to back seasons. Having said that, I still like Byram alot, and I don't think he's another Elliott.
Newfoundland
Registered User
Stive Morgan
Last in NHL in blinks/60
Byram's putting up these numbers in his draft year though, not his D+1, D+2, or overage season. He's still 17 until June.
landy92mack29
Registered User
not in his draft year though and he was a pure OFD
That's a good point.
Anyways, I wouldn't be that disappointed if the Avs ended up with him, should the Sens lose the lottery.
JoemAvs
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Byram has the potential to be a #1 two-way D. IMO after #1 C thats the most valuable commodity in this league by far. And its even rarer than #1 Cs....
IMO his defensive game is far ahead of Boqvists, Hughes and Bouchards last year. I wanted Dobson for the same reason last year and was shocked that he dropped as far. And I probably might take Byram over him as well.
IMO two-way Ds right now are very underrated while OFDs have gotten overrated a bit lately. Give me the 40 point guy that can eat heavy minutes and shutdown opposing top lines over the 60 point OFD any day of the week and twice on sundays.
If the Avs pick in the 3-5 range, I would love for them to pick Byram. Certainly over any winger that is projected to go there and I would probably even want to take him over the centers that should be available. Only guy right now I would have to think about not picking Byram over is Turcotte. And maybe Dach. But given his struggles this season and Turcottes injuries, I would probably take Byram over them as well.
Byram-Makar sounds like a good complement to Landeskog- MacKinnon- Rantanen for the next decade or so...
IMO his defensive game is far ahead of Boqvists, Hughes and Bouchards last year. I wanted Dobson for the same reason last year and was shocked that he dropped as far. And I probably might take Byram over him as well.
IMO two-way Ds right now are very underrated while OFDs have gotten overrated a bit lately. Give me the 40 point guy that can eat heavy minutes and shutdown opposing top lines over the 60 point OFD any day of the week and twice on sundays.
If the Avs pick in the 3-5 range, I would love for them to pick Byram. Certainly over any winger that is projected to go there and I would probably even want to take him over the centers that should be available. Only guy right now I would have to think about not picking Byram over is Turcotte. And maybe Dach. But given his struggles this season and Turcottes injuries, I would probably take Byram over them as well.
Byram-Makar sounds like a good complement to Landeskog- MacKinnon- Rantanen for the next decade or so...
He just had higher pure offence ability that I haven't seen from Byram yet. Provorov's creation ability in particular is much higher than Bowen's. He's also not as dynamic when it comes to pure offence either (Bowen has other strengths than Ivan doesn't have). The problem is that Byram is playing like half of the game because Giants - though better than average or mediocre - are quite the top heavy team, especially on defence. They rely on him a lot and because of that he gets to not only play in every important situation, he finds himself in top offencive minutes as well.
Good for him producing, but how they're playing him is just unrealistic for the NHL. In the pros there will be a certain number of ice time he will have, he's not going to play half of the game like he is in juniors. He probably isn't going to be a 80 point player in the pros - if so he would be in a two way race for 1st overall. Additionally, granted it was one game, but we saw how he wasn't effective at the Top Prospects game because he tended to try and do too much. How he played there is how he constantly plays in Vancouver and when you're filled with Pettersson, Horvat, and Boeser around you instead of junior players you're going to have to adjust (which could drop his stats).
Because of that I suggest that his point numbers will drop. He's still a defencive-first and his shutdown ability is his best trait of his game. I eventually see him as a solid two-way player once he gets more experience under his belt, but there could be some growing pains since his numbers are better than what I've seen from him offencively. His stat line in particular could go down as one of the best or the best draft-eligible defenders ever from the WHL. I am always more conservative when projecting players as best ever and I just can't see how he could be better than Weber, Jones, Niedermayer, Keith currently. He's still around Morgan Rielly for me and that is a damn good defender if you ask me.
ginner classic
Dammit Jim!
Any team would be ecstatic to get Morgan Rielly 3rd overall if that was a guaranteed floor and ceiling.
I agree, I don't really believe that many are looking at Byram as a potential franchise number one defenseman. But if that is his actual floor (I am not sure I like that as a comparable), most teams would be thrilled.
So he is a high IQ defenseman with the ability to read the play well?
How would people compare his skating/speed to a current NHL defenseman? I am just curious for an example.
Okay, let’s just close down this discussion of his skating right now 
I can’t believe what I’m reading...
You don’t think he has amazing forward-skating straight line speed? Okay, I agree, but it’s still good. And that’s where the commentary stops. His agility, turning, lateral acceleration, balance, etc etc etc are all elite. Skating is one of his absolute strengths and as a complete package is better than any other d-man in the draft.
I can’t believe what I’m reading...You don’t think he has amazing forward-skating straight line speed? Okay, I agree, but it’s still good. And that’s where the commentary stops. His agility, turning, lateral acceleration, balance, etc etc etc are all elite. Skating is one of his absolute strengths and as a complete package is better than any other d-man in the draft.
I love Byram and hope he falls into Vancouvers lap but I cant see any of the bottom dweller teams skip over Cozens, Podkolzin, and Dach at 3, 4 and 5.
Colorado has a 1 in Makar and really need secondary scoring (Ottawas pick) - likely go with Podkolzin at 3
Detroit other than Zadina and Larkin don't have elite high end talent up front. - likely go with Cozens
NJ needs another guy like Pod or Cozens to play with Hischier - Podkolzin
LA has an aging core that could possibly pick Byram but likely go with a center to play behind Kopitar. - Cozens
Anaheim needs to replace Perry, Kesler, Getzlaf ASAP. - Cozens
The only teams that could potentially take Byram before the 3 mentioned above are Edmonton (also desperately need scoring wingers) or Chicago.
OR....I may be out to lunch and have no idea what i'm talking about and Byram continues to climb.
TryamkinPleaseReturn
Rapidly Shrinking Cult
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The hard part to me is Dmen are so much harder to predict than forwards, when it comes to the top of the draft. It's not uncommon for the first couple D taken in the draft to not pan out as expected
2004 - Cam Barker (3 OA), Ladislav Smid
2005 - Jack Johnson (3 OA) Brian Lee
2006 - Erik Johnson (1 OA), Ty Wishart
2007 - Thomas Hickey (4 OA), Karl Alzner (5 OA)
2010 - Erik Gudbranson (3 OA), Dylan McIlrath
2012 - Ryan Murray (2 OA) Griffin Reinhart (4 OA)
But I really like Byram as a prospect
2004 - Cam Barker (3 OA), Ladislav Smid
2005 - Jack Johnson (3 OA) Brian Lee
2006 - Erik Johnson (1 OA), Ty Wishart
2007 - Thomas Hickey (4 OA), Karl Alzner (5 OA)
2010 - Erik Gudbranson (3 OA), Dylan McIlrath
2012 - Ryan Murray (2 OA) Griffin Reinhart (4 OA)
But I really like Byram as a prospect
JoemAvs
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- Jul 2, 2011
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Avs need a center and could use another #1 D (we will see if Makar ever gets there but even if he does another wouldn't hurt. Especially one that is more defensive minded.)
If the Avs pick Podkolzin in the top5, I will be furious. Thats the last guy I want to see picked with the Ottawa pick right now.
@TryamkinPleaseReturn:
Well you also have
2008 Doughty (#2 OA), Pietrangelo (#4 OA)
2009 Hedman (#2OA), OEL (#6 OA)
2013 Jones (#4 OA)
2014 Ekblad (#1 OA)
2015 Hanifin (#4 OA), Provorov (#7 OA), Werenski (#8 OA)
2017 Heiskanen (#3 OA)
2018 Dahlin (#1 OA)
Sure picking a D is a bit more risky but there are also always forwards that get picked early that bust or don't live up to their hype. And looking at that list, I would do dirty things to get my hands on many of these guys.
If Byram ever comes close to some of these names, he will be a homerun pick for sure...
Stive Morgan
Last in NHL in blinks/60
This might sound stupid but the Avs might want to pick #3 or later, I feel like Byram would mesh a lot better than Hughes of Kakko.
I agree with your thinking. I would be incredibly surprised if the Avs do not pick a center high, but Byram may be considered.
I also may have the same reaction to a Podkolzin selection. It is not a knock on his talent, but rather the uncertainty as to when he would come to NA. It is too much risk to take that high IMO.
One thing we have seen is that forwards, particularly center prospects, are going higher. It seems like a run on centers occurs before teams are looking at defensemen.
Alex NJD
Registered User
Detroit and NJ both need D and would probably select Byram if they thought he was the BPA at their pick. Colorado and LA too. Only team that's a "safe" bet not to draft him is Anaheim. Think you're underrating Turcotte and Zegras too, could see either going as high as top 5 over Cozens, Podkolzin, Dach, or Byram
NickH8
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I think it's entirely possible Detroit picks Byram #3, especially with the seasons Larkin and Veleno are having. Wouldn't be shocked if they went with a center either. The only guy I could see them not picking in that range is Podkolzin.
