Prospect Info: 4th Overall, Bowen Byram, Defence

[Avs71]

The exact quote about his skating was,

“does the big ice suit you well?”

“Um, ya I think so. I think Skating is kind of a strong suit of mine. So if I can use my speed on the big ice it definitely helps.”

Hardly arrogant.

He looks like he could be Landeskog’s 13 year old brother.

 

[Ivan13]

The exact quote about his skating was,

“does the big ice suit you well?”

“Um, ya I think so. I think Skating is kind of a strong suit of mine. So if I can use my speed on the big ice it definitely helps.”

Hardly arrogant.

He looks like he could be Landeskog’s 13 year old brother.

People create a narrative that he is an arrogant kid who thinks the CHL is beneath him, and it was over from there. 99% of the analysis I've seen on him follow the same old script. Butthurt, not playing well, regressed offensively, arrogant, takes stupid penalties etc. Completely ignoring context.

 

[Avs71]

People create a narrative that he is an arrogant kid who thinks the CHL is beneath him, and it was over from there. 99% of the analysis I've seen on him follow the same old script. ********, not playing well, regressed offensively, arrogant, takes stupid penalties etc. Completely ignoring context.

To further add, they asked him if he thinks he can be an X-factor like Makar was, and his response was, “I’m not looking that far ahead, I want to make the team first and foremost, so that is where my head is at.”

You can tell he is a confident kid in the way he handles himself in a media scrum, but nothing from his answers scream arrogant.

He’s just putting himself on the Pietrangelo path.

 

[Ivan13]

To further add, they asked him if he thinks he can be an X-factor like Makar was, and his response was, “I’m not looking that far ahead, I want to make the team first and foremost, so that is where my head is at.”

You can tell he is a confident kid in the way he handles himself in a media scrum, but nothing from his answers scream arrogant.

He’s just putting himself on the Pietrangelo path.

Yeah. But that doesn't fit the "He is a dbag like Doughboy" narrative.

 

[cgf]

Or...for some of us, he just comes off kinda douchie when we hear him speak

TBH I kinda like that about him; so it's not like I'm using to s*** on him because I'm one of the haters. But it's there. He might be a sweet kid, but there's something about his mannerisms that is going to rub some folks the wrong way. That's why some folks get rubbed the wrong way by it.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

he just comes off kinda *****ie when we hear him speak

You have to understand how this can only be seen as a 'negging' kind of comment though right? You say you don't want to shit on him but saying this is kinda doing exactly that even if you have other intentions. It perpetuates the bullshit takes on his personality.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I thought he gave a lot of thoughtful answers...oh well.

 

[Alex Jones]

When you are a high level player you have to believe that you are the best player on the ice

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Ask the most competitive and winning-driven athlete I’ve ever seen, Patrick Roy, if he ever thought anybody was better than him.

I love the ultra-confidence.

 

[S E P H]

I lol'd at the quote in the tweet. Byram is always so humble

Hope he has a big tournament.

He's going to be our Alexandre Burrows in no time!

 

[The Abusement Park]

Ask the most competitive and winning-driven athlete I’ve ever seen, Patrick Roy, if he ever thought anybody was better than him.

I love the ultra-confidence.

Every player in the NHL has that somewhere inside them. Some won't say it out loud but they all think they are the best and that's what got them to this level.

 

[Avs_19]

He's going to be our Alexandre Burrows in no time!

Him being a big Burrows fan might actually be the worst thing about him. That's a red flag.

 

[S E P H]

Him being a big Burrows fan might actually be the worst thing about him. That's a red flag.

It's not if he'll bite an opponent, but when for me. He has that sort of face, that Alexandre Burrows and Luis Suarez type of shark fangs.

Just look at them...

 

[Barklez]

Or...for some of us, he just comes off kinda *****ie when we hear him speak

TBH I kinda like that about him; so it's not like I'm using to s*** on him because I'm one of the haters. But it's there. He might be a sweet kid, but there's something about his mannerisms that is going to rub some folks the wrong way. That's why some folks get rubbed the wrong way by it.

Exactly. Not trying to paint it as a positive or negative thing, it just rubs me the wrong way.

To be honest Makar’s humility gets equally, if not moreso, cringeworthy for me.

Pretty much a coin toss for me which one is harder to watch in an interview.

If BB could iron out the loud and extended “UMMMs” I think the rest of his persona wouldn’t bother me as much.

 

[cgf]

You have to understand how this can only be seen as a 'negging' kind of comment though right? You say you don't want to **** on him but saying this is kinda doing exactly that even if you have other intentions. It perpetuates the bull**** takes on his personality.

We're not trying to date him, so it doesn't matter if other folks think he's adorable or as douchie as Patrick. That doesn't change how good he is or how much we want him to succeed for this franchise. Most professional athletes are arrogant when you meet them IRL...and that's fine; you almost have to be to dedicate as much of your life as it takes to make it. Some more, some less, some can pull off faux-modesty, others can own their douchiness (like Roy or Doughty), and the rare few are genuinely modest. Different people are going to get rubbed the wrong way at different points on that spectrum by different players & not everyone is going to share your sensibilities.

So I'm sorry for not helping you push this narrative that Byram's never said anything that could turn some folks off

FWIW I liked this interview and he hit the good-kind of self-confident, for me. But he's crossed that line (again for me) in others.