Paul Byron really is Mr. Versatility

MONTREAL - After exploding for his first 20-goal campaign in 2016-17, Paul Byron succeeded in silencing most of his naysayers.Then, in case there were any stragglers, he repeated the feat again this past season.

In 2017-18, Byron wasn't exactly putting up points as the scrappy, unproven underdog, though. In fact, it could be said that the 29-year-old was completing his evolution from late-round draft pick turned Buffalo Sabres outsider turned Calgary Flames waivers castoff to what he means to the Canadiens today: a leader, both on the ice and in the locker room; a valuable, durable, versatile forward trusted in every conceivable situation by his coaching staff - in short, an established and integral member of the Habs' crop of attackers.
Oh, how far he's come.
"Personally, I don't think I've changed. I think I created a lot when I was [in Calgary], I just wasn't getting the chances," Byron told reporters in early April, after it was announced he was the 2017-18 winner of the Jacques Beauchamp-Molson Trophy as the team's unsung hero. "Everybody knows that when you start scoring, confidence comes and you start believing in yourself more."
Byron's scoring may have been both bunchy and sporadic in 2017-18, but it was certainly there. Nevertheless, it might have been mitigated by his playing with Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec on a line which was counted on to produce offense and also to shut down top-line opposition at the same time.

The Ottawa native's versatility was put on even fuller display as the Habs dealt with a rash of injuries. That afforded him the opportunity to plug the hole at center created when Phillip Danault was sidelined after taking a Zdeno Chara slapshot to the head in January.
"That's always been my forte. I've been priding myself on making sure I'm an easy guy to play with, and just trying to feed off my linemates and do whatever I can to support them and be a good guy to play with, and be someone guys want to play with," said Byron in April, reflecting in part on his time pivoting lines featuring the likes of Max Pacioretty, Charles Hudon, and Artturi Lehkonen with Danault on the shelf. "I think the fact I can bring so much versatility to a team really increases my value. I played center in Junior and in the American [Hockey] League, and I came up in the NHL and played left and right wing, so I'm pretty comfortable everywhere on the ice. All those things definitely helped my game and make me feel comfortable no matter what situation I'm in."

For the second year in a row, Byron was the lowest-shooting member of the NHL's 20-goal club with just 115 shots. His shooting percentages - 18.82% at five-on-five and 17.39% at all strengths - were far and away the best on the Canadiens, while his 112 high-danger scoring chances were second only to Gallagher, the team's leading scorer.

And, with 35 points and a wealth of contributions made on all four lines all over the map this past season, it's fair to say Byron can give himself a pat on the back for a job well done in 2017-18.
"The biggest thing for me is knowing and believing that I'm not just a fourth line player anymore. I always felt I needed to prove, as a fourth-line guy, I had to go out there and hit, and penalty-kill, and that was going to be my role. But, I can bring more than that. I've been an offensive guy. I'm able to play really good stout defense. I can kill penalties. Being able to do a little bit of everything is really what's gotten me here," he concluded. "I'm grateful for every opportunity I've gotten here in Montreal."
Advanced stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com