Montreal Canadiens: Paul Byron Showing How Much Habs Missed Him When He Was Injured

The Montreal Canadiens missed several key players with injury this season. They may not have missed anyone as much as Paul Byron.

The Montreal Canadiens have dealt with many injuries this season. Top players like Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin all missed some time with injuries. The Habs missed those players when they were out of the lineup, much like they missed Victor Mete and Joel Armia when they were sidelined with injuries.

They may not have missed any of those aforementioned players as much as they missed Paul Byron when he was on the injured reserve.

Byron was of course, acquired via waivers from the Calgary Flames in 2015. The Ottawa, Ontario native was a slight, depth winger who had showed unbelievable speed with the Flames, but constantly failed to convert the chances that were created by his blazing speed.

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When he arrived in Montreal, his initial season was pretty similar. He had six goals and 19 points in 57 games during his final year in Calgary. His first season in Montreal was quite similar as he put up 11 goals and 18 points in 62 games.

Then, the 5’9″ left winger finally broke through and started putting away some of his great scoring chances. His speed is among the league’s best, and is probably the Eastern Conference’s best with Connor McDavid and now Andreas Athanasiou playing in Edmonton.

Byron seemed to put everything together in the 2016-17 season and started making better reads defensively and knew when to pounce on a defender and create a turnover in the Habs defensive zone. When he times it right, it often leads to him being all alone on the opposing goaltender from the red line.

HIs second season in Montreal saw him double his goal total from the year before and finish with 22 goals and 43 points in 81 games. He proved the following year that it was no fluke when he scored 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games. For the third consecutive season he was well on his way to matching those totals, but injuries cost him 26 games last year. Still, he put up 15 goals and 31 points in just 56 games.

Not only did Byron prove he could overcome his small stature and produce offence for the Canadiens. He did most of that scoring, if not all, from a bottom six position in the lineup, bringing invaluable production from the depths of the roster. He also became the team’s most trusted penalty killer and routinely took off and created offensive chances while shorthanded.

It is rare an NHL team is on its heels when they have the man advantage but when Byron is on the ice, you have on choice but to be extra careful.

Byron started this season slowly, and was then injured and missed three months of the schedule. Since returning, he has proven exactly how much he was missed while he was out of the lineup.

His first game back was against the Detroit Red Wings, and Byron had an assist while playing just over 13 minutes in hi first game back. He was held scoreless against the Washington Capitals two nights later, but then started to bring plenty of offence to the table once again.

He had a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. He scored again in the Habs next game against the Vancouver Canucks, was shutout by the New York Rangers, then added an assist agains the Carolina Hurricanes and scored a shorthanded goal last night against the New York Islanders.

He is also on the top penalty kill unit with Joel Armia, and has breathed life into Max Domi once again while playing on a line with him at five on five.

Byron is in the first year of a four-year contract extension that pays him $3.4 million. He was one of the biggest bargains in the league the past three years making just $1.16 million. He tripled his salary this season, but if he continues to kill penalties, play great two-way hockey at even strength and provide scoring from the third line on a regular basis, he will remain underpaid.

The Canadiens missed a lot of players due to injury this season. They may not have missed anyone as much as Byron who can provide plenty of value in all situations. With the Habs seven points out of a playoff spot, it makes you wonder how close they would be in they didn’t miss Byron for so long.