It’s not even a debate. I wouldn’t take a risk with Byram for a guy like Drouin. It’s just not worth the gamble.
No but you do expect a #4 overall in what was said a very strong draft to dominates more than he did at the WJC.
If Winnipeg need a young D so bad that they are willing to sacrifice Connor for it then it’s fine, totally up to them. I wouldn’t be willing to gamble on Byram picking up his game for Drouin.
Also, although I had a very limited experience watching Byram (Last year playoff + this year WJC) I can definitely tell you that I was way more impressed with both his offensive and defensive game last year. Last year during the playoff he was all over the place and dominating games. Sample is small but to me he hasn’t shown that at the WJC this year and I feel he hasn’t progressed at all this year.
Offensively he probably hasn't progressed.... But when you score 26 Goals and 71 points as a 17 year old Dman.... Theres really not any room left to progress. His offensive production in the WHL from this time last year compared to this year is almost identical with the loan exception of goals being a step back.
As for the World Juniors.... He was an 18 year old Dman on a Canada defense that was built entirely around 19 year old Dmen(Except the 7th D Drsydale). And yet it was Byram who was the only Dman both killing penalties and playing on the PP. And it was Byram that they relied on ridiculously heavily in the 3rd against the Russiams when they were trailing by 2 and then played the entire last 3 mins of ththe game with the 1 goal lead.
Its rare for Canada to have 18 year old Dmen on its roster, let alone having an 18 year old be the #1D on the roster.
This isnt me being a homer either. Check my post history. I was one of the most vocal critics of his game early on in the WJC when he was struggling a little bit, and I was critical of him during Colorado training camp when he wasn't quite NHL ready and it showed.
But make no mistake about it, from about the mid point of the World Juniors onward he was absolutely excellent and since going back to the Giants he has carried that play into an excellent second half push for him and the Giants.
Theres a reason Button and Pronman has him as the best D prospect in the league. He's having a solid D+1 even if the offense is stagnating. Anybody with any understanding of the year he had last year knew it was coming. It wasn't the 26G 71 points that were the reason he got drafted 4th overall.
