Byron earns `A' on sweater by `always wanting to win'
There's a reason why Paul Byron wears an “A” on his Canadiens sweater.
He's a leader and a warrior. Nothing has come easy for Byron, a five-foot-nine, 165-pound forward who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft and was claimed by the Canadiens off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Oct. 6, 2015.
During his five seasons with the Canadiens, Byron has become a key member of the team with his ability to play all three forward positions on any of the four lines as well as being a very effective and dangerous penalty-killer. Byron is the smallest player on the Canadiens — the same height as Brendan Gallagher but 18 pounds lighter — but he won't back down from anyone. He fearlessly goes into the dirty areas on the ice and he will even drop the gloves if needed.
That's why he's an alternate captain, along with Gallagher, while Shea Weber wears the captain's “C". Weber is the team's official leader, but Gallagher and Byron make up the heart and soul of the team.
The Canadiens got off to a great start last season with an 11-5-3 record after an impressive 5-2 win over the Capitals in Washington on Nov. 15. But Byron injured his knee during that game and Jonathan Drouin hurt his wrist, both requiring surgery. Things fell apart for the Canadiens after that and they finished the regular season with a 31-31-9 record. Byron returned to the lineup in mid-february and finished the season with 4-6-10 totals in 29 games.
Byron is at full health now and has been on the fourth line at training camp with Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen following the off-season acquisition of forwards Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli. Byron is in a battle to keep his spot on the fourth line with veterans Corey Perry and Michael Frolik, also acquired during the off-season, waiting in the wings — or on the taxi squad.
“As a team, we added some great players,” Byron said after a morning skate before Sunday night's training- camp scrimmage in Brossard. “I think it takes a little bit of the focus off one line or off a couple of offensive players to be the main catalyst. I think it can be much more spread out this year.”
There have been rumours about Byron possibly being traded with the Canadiens up tight against the NHL'S Us$81.5-million salary cap and the 31-year-old heading into the second season of a fouryear, Us$13.6-million contract. Perry and Frolik are both earning US$750,000.
Byron said he doesn't listen to rumours and can't control what happens off the ice, adding his only focus is on his team and helping the Canadiens win games.
“I”m very excited to be here,” he said. “We have a very good team, a lot of good acquisitions this summer. The chance that our team has for this year is rare.”
Byron said his focus always remains the same, even coming off an injury and a disappointing season.
“Any time I step on the ice, any time I'm in a practice, a game, a one-on-one, playing cards at the table, I just always want to win,” he said. “That's my one focus. ... I know last year was last year. I knew I was capable of showing better, I knew I was better than that.
“I'm a guy who can play anywhere up and down (the lineup), be good on the penalty-kill, skate, forecheck, backtrack,” he added. “Push guys to work harder, create a pace, intensity in practice. That's my identity, that's my role and that's something I'm capable to keep doing going forward.”
That's why that “A” is on his sweater