NHL Out of Town talk - Hell breaks loose as Byram, Eklund, Nemec, the 4OA pick, Kyrou, Etcetera, all find new homes

[DaBroons]

This may be the tin can on a string effect but I had read Harry did want Brown initially, but pivoted to Ray and overruled the scouts who wanted Brown.

We'll never know b/c Brown was gone wasn't he?

 

[quietbruinfan]

We'll never know b/c Brown was gone wasn't he?

Yep, and that fact makes your version, and Rosa's, make more sense.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Well I hope DS doesn't feel pressure to do something stupid. Like promise David something he can't deliver....those who know ...know

 

[Olden McGroin]

 

[BMC]

Holy f***.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Clearly the Hawks are planning to extend Byram. I'd just assume at this point that they do.

25-year old former No.4 overall pick just coming into his own. Was terrific in the playoffs and looked every bit the top pair D-man he was projected to be when he was drafted. He'll go into Chicago, get fed the most minutes and the most offensive touches of any of their D, tons of PP time, and I'd fully expect him numbers to jump maybe 15-20 points. How else was Chicago getting this type of two-way puck-moving D-man who fits their age range of the rest of their group? He's at worst a puck-moving #2 the next decade for them, a year from now people might be talking about him as a #1 if his numbers jump into the 60 point range (and they should given the opportunity he'll have in front of him).

Sure they could of sat on the 4th pick and took a D-man there like Carels or Reid or Verhoeff, but doubtful any of them are big-time contributors in the next 2-3 years and no guarantees any of them pan out. Highly unlikely at this point Stenberg would of been there at #4 either. Six straight years out of the playoffs at some point draft-and-develop only gets you so far. Especially in a major US market like Chicago

Crevier is a solid add for Buffalo but doubtful he's ever a top-pair guy. With Vlasic, Kaiser, Levshunov, Korchinski and Rinzel, Hawks could afford to part with Crevier even if he might end up a solid 2nd pair D with tons of length. Good player who will help them immediately.

The Greenway inclusion is inconsequential from a Hawks perspective. UFA after next year and they aren't likely to spend to the cap this year, so that's the price you pay to get the deal done. They have the majority of their team under contract already and even including Greenway, they are a couple million under the salary cap floor which no one ever seems to consider, so in that sense it is consequential to try and hit the cap floor.

Clearly Buffalo wants to gain space to try and convince hometown boy Tuch to stay, hence the Greenway inclusion.

I don't get all the angst for this deal for Chicago. They paid a fair price for 25-year old Bowen Byram in a very expensive trade market. And fans are simply overvaluing that 4th overall pick. Now that it appears that Stenberg won't be there at #4 with the moves made by San Jose yesterday, the value of that pick had diminished which I believe factored into the Bryam decision.

Agree on the extension part but is Byram really THAT good? In the playoffs I thought he was excellent against the Bruins but the Habs shut him down pretty well - just 2 points and -6 through 7 games and he didn't seem to handle some of the pressure very well. He's clearly talented and at 25 you can still expect him to get better, but how much? Whether he's a true top pair guy I guess we will find out. If so, this works, if not, perhaps not so much.

The other part is the price - did it really need pick 4 and more besides to get it done? Guess we'll never know who else was in on Bowen. Really though I think it really comes down to performance, and in that sense you're very much right - if Byram is a 1-2D, end of the day no complaints. I had a peak at the Chicago board, and most of their fans don't rate him that highly and they're in meltdown over there. For their sake they'll have to be hoping that you and their GM are right and the pessimism is misplaced.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Agree on the extension part but is Byram really THAT good? In the playoffs I thought he was excellent against the Bruins but the Habs shut him down pretty well - just 2 points and -6 through 7 games and he didn't seem to handle some of the pressure very well. He's clearly talented and at 25 you can still expect him to get better, but how much? Whether he's a true top pair guy I guess we will find out. If so, this works, if not, perhaps not so much.

The other part is the price - did it really need pick 4 and more besides to get it done? Guess we'll never know who else was in on Bowen. Really though I think it really comes down to performance, and in that sense you're very much right - if Byram is a 1-2D, end of the day no complaints. I had a peak at the Chicago board, and most of their fans don't rate him that highly and they're in meltdown over there. For their sake they'll have to be hoping that you and their GM are right and the pessimism is misplaced.

It's about Bedard ...the brass doesnt want to lose him from discontent. In my mind a 4th OA to get Byram AND to keep Bedard happy and potentially resigning is well worth it. IMO Chicago saw the writing on the wall and did what was needed.

 

[8Neely8]

 

[Over the volcano]

L'Heureux is who I wanted when they took Lysell - both of em still scuffling but hope he finds a fit in Colorado

 

[Ned Bouhalassa]

This may be the tin can on a string effect but I had read Harry did want Brown initially, but pivoted to Ray and overruled the scouts who wanted Brown.

Ray Brown was an incredible bassist!

 

[Aussie Bruin]

It's about Bedard ...the brass doesnt want to lose him from discontent. In my mind a 4th OA to get Byram AND to keep Bedard happy and potentially resigning is well worth it. IMO Chicago saw the writing on the wall and did what was needed.

But Bedard is a RFA, so Chicago have all the leverage there for now. So I'm not sure about that.

Regardless, I take the wider point that it's time for the Hawks to stop just acquiring raw talent and start levelling up with some tried and tested prime players. The question is is Byram the right guy in that regard, especially given the price?

Consensus opinion says not, but consensus has been wrong plenty of times before. Up to the player to prove otherwise.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Well I hope DS doesn't feel pressure to do something stupid. Like promise David something he can't deliver....those who know ...know

I am now curious.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

But Bedard is a RFA, so Chicago have all the leverage there for now. So I'm not sure about that.

Regardless, I take the wider point that it's time for the Hawks to stop just acquiring raw talent and start levelling up with some tried and tested prime players. The question is is Byram the right guy in that regard, especially given the price?

Consensus opinion says not, but consensus has been wrong plenty of times before. Up to the player to prove otherwise.

I am sure. There has been an exodus of high end talent wanting to escape a team that has stalled ...regardless if it's in RFA stage or UFA stage it's discontent they don't want brewing. It brews from early stages. This is 100% a play to keep Bedard by improving their team now and not in 3-4 years from now.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

I am now curious.

lol it's the name of a Canadian football/soccer player in the world cup who scored a goal today ...no word of a lie..his name is Promise David

 

[BruinDust]

Agree on the extension part but is Byram really THAT good? In the playoffs I thought he was excellent against the Bruins but the Habs shut him down pretty well - just 2 points and -6 through 7 games and he didn't seem to handle some of the pressure very well. He's clearly talented and at 25 you can still expect him to get better, but how much? Whether he's a true top pair guy I guess we will find out. If so, this works, if not, perhaps not so much.

The other part is the price - did it really need pick 4 and more besides to get it done? Guess we'll never know who else was in on Bowen. Really though I think it really comes down to performance, and in that sense you're very much right - if Byram is a 1-2D, end of the day no complaints. I had a peak at the Chicago board, and most of their fans don't rate him that highly and they're in meltdown over there. For their sake they'll have to be hoping that you and their GM are right and the pessimism is misplaced.

I do think highly of the player. I do think the #4 is overvalued by fans. I do think if it was #3 pick they'd have more to be upset about, you get your pick of the litter after McKenna/Stenberg, but Vancouver might snap up the guy they Chicago likes the best and now you might be scrabbling while on the clock.

I've seen some comments on the main board that Chicago's best approach is continue to stink up the joint and draft high for several more years, keep building that way.

But I think there comes a point where you have to try and reverse course and get better now. 6 years of missing the playoffs now for them, I don't see how they can just continue to draft/develop and go without a playoff game for another 2 or 3 or 4 years.

Then factor in you have a franchise player who like it or not needs to be catered to in this era where players feel more empowered than ever to call their own shot. And on the business side, just for sponsors and TV rights holders and corporate box owners, at some point they have to be appeased as well or they'll take their money elsewhere.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I do think highly of the player. I do think the #4 is overvalued by fans. I do think if it was #3 pick they'd have more to be upset about, you get your pick of the litter after McKenna/Stenberg, but Vancouver might snap up the guy they Chicago likes the best and now you might be scrabbling while on the clock.

I've seen some comments on the main board that Chicago's best approach is continue to stink up the joint and draft high for several more years, keep building that way.

But I think there comes a point where you have to try and reverse course and get better now. 6 years of missing the playoffs now for them, I don't see how they can just continue to draft/develop and go without a playoff game for another 2 or 3 or 4 years.

Then factor in you have a franchise player who like it or not needs to be catered to in this era where players feel more empowered than ever to call their own shot. And on the business side, just for sponsors and TV rights holders and corporate box owners, at some point they have to be appeased as well or they'll take their money elsewhere.

A top five pick hadn’t been traded in 18 years. And it’s for Bo Byram?

 

[quietbruinfan]

lol it's the name of a Canadian football/soccer player in the world cup who scored a goal today ...no word of a lie..his name is Promise David

Ah.....

 

[Guelph Bruin]

A top five pick hadn’t been traded in 18 years. And it’s for Bo Byram?

Could they have gotten a more name brand asset? Sure. Is he a good player who can fit in the top pairing? Yup. Are they better now? Yup. But I hear you....similar to Joe Thorton .....did you really shop that around the league type situation. Regardless, we had nothing to match the offer IMO.

 

[BruinDust]

A top five pick hadn’t been traded in 18 years. And it’s for Bo Byram?

And there is more than one Top 5 pick that teams had wished they had traded. Top 5 doesn't guarantee a superstar, doesn't even guarantee a competent NHL player.

I guess if someone doesn't think much of the player, it's a bad move. I was impressed with him in the playoffs, looked like he was just coming into his own as a very good NHL D-man. Worst case he's a 2/3 guy, but a 2/3 is still a very valuable player.

I also think what is the alternative if you want to add that sort of player? Not many 24/25/26 year old puck-moving D-men with top pair potential out there in the market. At least his age fits closely to the rest of their group. If it was a 30-something year old D totally different story.

At some point you have to change the course a bit when your 6 years of DNQs. I think they should be fearful of Bedard demanding out if they stink it up again next year. Even if they miss again, they need to at least be competitive and compete for a playoff spot. Another year at rock bottom and who knows.