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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Who Need To Step Up Or Habs Will Miss Playoffs

By Ken MacMillan

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 30: Jonathan Drouin #92 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his first period goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators with teammates Karl Alzner #22, Shea Weber #6, Paul Byron #41 and Artturi Lehkonen #62 at Canadian Tire Centre on October 30, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 30: Jonathan Drouin #92 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his first period goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators with teammates Karl Alzner #22, Shea Weber #6, Paul Byron #41 and Artturi Lehkonen #62 at Canadian Tire Centre on October 30, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 30: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 30: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Paul Byron

When the Canadiens acquired Paul Byron, there is no way they knew the impact he would have over the next few years. He was picked up off waivers from the Calgary Flames and soon became one of the most productive bottom six players in the league.

His first season with the Habs was the 2015-16 season. He scored 11 goals and 18 points in 62 games. Not bad production for a guy you grabbed off waivers at the start of the year. Also, he was the fastest player we have seen in a Habs jersey in a long time.

Byron was signed to a three-year contract with a cap hit just shy of $1.2 million per year. Over the course of that contract where he was being paid like a fourth line player, he scored goals like a second line player all while being a third line player. He had seasons of 22 and 20 goals before scoring 15 times last year in 56 games.

Having proven he can score 20 goals each season while playing on the third line, the Habs signed Byron to a four year extension worth $3.4 million per season. This is the first year of that contract and now that he is being paid like a second line winger, he is scoring like a replacement level player.

Byron has played all 14 games and has not scored a goal and only chipped in three assists so far. He is mostly playing on the third line with Kotkaniemi and Lehkonen and is also a part of one of the worst penalty killing units in the league.

How many games could Caufield play with Habs this season?. dark. Next

The 30 year old winger is going to have to start scoring like he did the past three seasons if the Canadiens are going to take a step forward and make the playoffs in April. The Habs tripled Byron’s salary heading into this season, and they did it because they expect him to be a threat on the penalty kill as well as a 20 goal scorer. He needs to step up quick to the Habs will be on the outside looking in again this postseason.

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