LD Bowen Byram - Vancouver Giants, WHL (2019, 4th, COL)

[JoemAvs]

Jesus H. Christ

It's probably gonna happen too.

No its not. It never happens. I also doubt Byram - Makar will be a thing.

I mean Yzerman has done a great job but how on earth he was able to pass up pairing Hedman with Seth Jones for the next decade just to draft Drouin is something I will never understand.
Very likely Byram will drop to 5 or 6 (Detroit would be a perfect fit) given how the lottery has panned out.

Teams almost never go for the D stack if they can stack up on highend forwards instead. Yzerman is just the worst offender I can think of lately in that regard. I can't even blame them. If you already got one young stud on D, building around that guy with later picks is easier than getting in position to land another high end potential franchise level forward.

I mean look around the top defenses in the league. I can't think of one top tier blueline that is comprised of two top10 picks (drafted by the same team) at a similar age. Closest might be Dahlin - Risto and Risto already wasn't thought of a top tier guy when they got Dahlin.

I think Chicago will definitely pick a center. Probably Turcotte. And I don't see the Avs going D. I would personally really like it especially if Turcotte goes #3 but I just don't see it.
Pretty sure they will go forward. And I hope to god that it will be a center.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think Chicago will definitely pick a center. Probably Turcotte.

Why do almost all the non-Hawks fans on this board think this? We're not gonna draft for need, and center isn't a need either.

I'm sure they'll have discussions about it, but Byram will be the pick.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

Hawks fans want Byram but since we already have Boqvist I think Turcotte is most likely pick. I think Byram>Boqvist and having Byram can make others expendable and we can make a trade for a solid forward now or for the future

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

I think Hawks should take him at three and then load up at forward with the rest of their picks. They have a very strong prospect pool at defence, but Byram would be their best and he’s a lefty, where most of their best players are righties.

 

[Chiarelli]

I thought it was in this thread but I can't find it....

Someone posted the highest scoring draft eligible d men to come out of the WHL and Byram was climbing that list.

Anyone able to provide?

 

[Dominance]

Right? He’s been doing this all year

“Agility is a weakness”

 

[SI90]

I think Hawks should take him at three and then load up at forward with the rest of their picks. They have a very strong prospect pool at defence, but Byram would be their best and he’s a lefty, where most of their best players are righties.

I said the same thing. With the emergence of Strome and Debrincat already looking like a star they can get a potential top pairing defenseman to go along with Boqvist.

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

I said the same thing. With the emergence of Strome and Debrincat already looking like a star they can get a potential top pairing defenseman to go along with Boqvist.

They could potentially have the best defence in the league if they grab Byram. Turcotte and Podkolzin are also solid with star potential, but Byram seems to be the best fit.

 

[SI90]

They could potentially have the best defence in the league if they grab Byram. Turcotte and Podkolzin are also solid with star potential, but Byram seems to be the best fit.

I love both Turcotte and Byram. I got to see a good amount of Turcotte last year with the USDP. Podkolzin I didn’t see other than the WJC. This is a really good draft. If your scouts do their job you can get a fine player.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

What do you guys think about Byram vs. Hughes??
Personally I would lean towards Byram because he has more aggressiveness and physicality to his game
Hughes looked great in his NHL games but also saw him get bullied a bit and pushed around on some breakouts. Just needed to make some quicker decisions which I’m sure will come with time.
I love both players and both will be great IMO

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think Hawks should take him at three and then load up at forward with the rest of their picks. They have a very strong prospect pool at defence, but Byram would be their best and he’s a lefty, where most of their best players are righties.

Precisely this.

Take Byram and spend the rest of the picks on forwards. We still have future drafts to look for a center in the 1st round. Toews just had a career year and Strome is emerging. It's not like we're in an imminent need for a center whereas Keith just won't be able to handle top minutes going forward.

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

Precisely this.

Take Byram and spend the rest of the picks on forwards. We still have future drafts to look for a center in the 1st round. Toews just had a career year and Strome is emerging. It's not like we're in an imminent need for a center whereas Keith just won't be able to handle top minutes going forward.

Yep that’s my thoughts. Strome-Toews is fine right now and for the next 3-5 years. Keith-Gustavsson isn’t ideal right now and definitely won’t be in 3-5 years.

 

[Larry Lightning]

What do you guys think about Byram vs. Hughes??
Personally I would lean towards Byram because he has more aggressiveness and physicality to his game
Hughes looked great in his NHL games but also saw him get bullied a bit and pushed around on some breakouts. Just needed to make some quicker decisions which I’m sure will come with time.
I love both players and both will be great IMO

I’d give the edge to Hughes from what I’ve seen from both players. Much more dynamic and game breaking.

 

[polarbearcub]

Was hoping the Canucks could at least move up to 3 to take byram. Him and Hughes would go s long way in building a new d core

 

[Michal]

Byram is LD, isn't he? How do you think when is he going to be ready for the NHL?

 

[Patagonia]

The next tier of players are fairly close: Cozens, Podkolzin, Byram & Turcotte.

You really can't go wrong with any of the picks. I strongly believe a strong foundation of DMen is more difficult to achieve than drafting Forwards.

However, Byram is interesting for both CHI and COL. They have the same prospect strengths DMen and Forward needs.

CHI: Byram-Boqvist

or

COL: Byram-Makar
​

DMen is a position to be greedy. Selecting another young, strong, high end DMen will solidify an extremely difficult position.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Scored his 32nd goal and 88th point of the season in game 4 vs Spokane, Giants having a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

 

[lawrence]

Byram is LD, isn't he? How do you think when is he going to be ready for the NHL?

From what I’m hearing or “reading” from people who’s watched him and following the team he needs another year and he should be good for the following year.

Some aspects of his defensive game needs work. That being said amazing offensive juggernaut. Personally I think he will be s Ryan sutur calibre dman that will average 50 points 55 points in the league.

 

[Gold Standard]

From what I’m hearing or “reading” from people who’s watched him and following the team he needs another year and he should be good for the following year.

Some aspects of his defensive game needs work. That being said amazing offensive juggernaut. Personally I think he will be s Ryan sutur calibre dman that will average 50 points 55 points in the league.

As far as I'm concerned, I think there should be an unofficial team policy, no junior age defensemen on a NHL roster. I don't care how ready they appear. finish your junior career, then half a season in the AHL to gauge 'readiness'.

 

[AvsCOL]

Byram to COL to create the best D core in the league please.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Byram to COL to create the best D core in the league please.

Seems more likely that Col would get him at the moment. You pick what?...4th?

 

[JoemAvs]

Seems more likely that Col would get him at the moment. You pick what?...4th?

Yes the Avs pick 4th and I have 0 faith that they will pick Byram if he is still available.
Which is why I hope that he goes 3rd leaving Turcotte (hopefully) to the Avs...

Hopefully both of them keep lighting up the score board and performing well in the CHL playoffs/U18s (while the rest of them disappoints) in order to make passing on them incredibly hard for a stubborn GM who picked Kaut over Smith just because he felt like picking a winger....

 

[Patagonia]

Yes the Avs pick 4th and I have 0 faith that they will pick Byram if he is still available.
Which is why I hope that he goes 3rd leaving Turcotte (hopefully) to the Avs...

Hopefully both of them keep lighting up the score board and performing well in the CHL playoffs/U18s (while the rest of them disappoints) in order to make passing on them incredibly hard for a stubborn GM who picked Kaut over Smith just because he felt like picking a winger....

Sakic could be trying to deflect any attention on the player he wants. Don't know players Sakic targeted, but AVs fans seemed to want a certain player that is selected just before their pick.

2015 - Rants (Provorov/Werenski)
2016 - Jost (Sergachev)
2017 - Makar (Heiskanen)
208 - Kaut (Denisenko/Farabee)

Fortunately, Turcotte/Byram seemed to be equally split.

 

[Go Wings]

As much as I would love Detroit to get him, I think Chicago or LA will take him. I think Colorado drafts Cozens.

 

[Daximus]

From what I’m hearing or “reading” from people who’s watched him and following the team he needs another year and he should be good for the following year.

Some aspects of his defensive game needs work. That being said amazing offensive juggernaut. Personally I think he will be s Ryan sutur calibre dman that will average 50 points 55 points in the league.

Yeah I think another year of Junior will do him good. But I'd say that about most players coming out of the WHL.