Confirmed with Link: Montreal Canadiens Sign Paul Byron to 4-Year Extension ($3.4M AAV)

[The Great Weal]

Well I won't do all the work because I'm lazy but our average age at the end of last season was 25.4

Forwards over age 25
Plekanec (gone at the end of the year)
Byron (28)
Shaw (26)
Gallagher (25)

Yeah, I'd say they could use some veteran presence. Byron will be our oldest forward next year lol.

You still havent addressed the rest of my post... anyways, we have the vets until the end of this season. With all the cap space we have, it really wouldnt have been an issue to get some vets for next year.

 

[Jee]

At no point would Byron ever have been worth a 1st. He's a 20-20 player at his very best...

Ahem, Paul Gaustad.

 

[japhi]

I guess you must have missed every trade deadline ever.

Every trade deadline there are a handful of players that get traded for a 1st. Out of 1000 players in the league. The idea that Byron is that player that a GM is going to trade a first for is pretty naive. So question really is would you rather have the 50th pick in 2020 or Byron? Cause Byron for a first while possible is mostly fantasy.

 

[PriceIsGod]

Really saw us trading him honestly but really happy with this signing. Despite a huge overhaul on offense he's someone I'm happy to keep. But it really makes you wonder who Bergevin plans on getting rid of.. We just dont have the room

 

[ArtPeur]

Ahem, Paul Gaustad.

Hanzal, Rivet, ...

 

[ottawa]

I guess you must have missed every trade deadline ever.

Last 10 trades involving 1st round picks

1st+ for Duchene
1st+ for EK
1st+ for ROR
1st+ for McDonagh
1st+ for Tatar
1st+ for Evander Kane
1st+ for Stastny
1st for Hartman
1st+ for Rick Nash

Where does Byron fit in that list? he won't get you a 1st

 

[DAChampion]

Trades 10 trades involving 1st round picks
1st+ for Duchene
1st+ for EK
1st+ for ROR
1st+ for McDonagh
1st+ for Tatar
1st+ for Evander Kane
1st+ for Stastny
1st for Hartman (lol)
1st+ for Rick Nash

Where does Byron fit in that list? he won't get you a 1st

Byron might be worth two 2nd rounders.

 

[Adam Michaels]

The whole purpose of bringing back Plekanec was for leadership. You can always sign vets in free agency too. And who knows if Byron would have came back if we had traded him.

Plekanec was brought in for one year, nevertheless. He'll help in that department but it's not like he'll show the kids everything in one year and then they're ready once he goes. Someone like Byron can help keep it going after Plekanec is gone again.

Also, signing vets in free agency every year is not the best way to get the kids ready. They'll keep having new "teachers" every year instead of having some stability with some teammates.

And you're right. We don't know if Byron would have come back as a free agent like Plekanec did. But I'm more than fine if the organization decided not to find out. It's not that I was opposed to trading Byron. But I think he fits the type of style they want to play and he's made for today's NHL, even at 29 years old.

 

[crazyd74]

Really saw us trading him honestly but really happy with this signing. Despite a huge overhaul on offense he's someone I'm happy to keep. But it really makes you wonder who Bergevin plans on getting rid of.. We just dont have the room

Andrew Shaw...he won't make it to the end of his contract healthy. He now provides instability in the roster.

 

[The Great Weal]

You think a bottom 6 forward will net you a 1st? Give me what you're smoking.

Hartman, Hansen(1st like prospect), Hanzal, Eaves, Perron,Vermette...etc.

 

[ottawa]

Byron might be worth two 2nd rounders.

I think Byron is worth more to us than two 2nds (I also don't think he gets us two 2nds)...if he hits another 20 goal season then you trade him, worst case scenario he's our oldest forward next year after Pleks is gone.

 

[PriceIsGod]

Byron might be worth two 2nd rounders.

I feel a 2nd and a 3rd/conditional pick would be pretty fair value

 

[Habs]

Overpay much Marc? Yikes. I'll hang up and listen to your reply.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Really saw us trading him honestly but really happy with this signing. Despite a huge overhaul on offense he's someone I'm happy to keep. But it really makes you wonder who Bergevin plans on getting rid of.. We just dont have the room

This is an interesting question. The Habs are stacked in a lot of positions, most notably on the wing. Someone's got to go before the season starts.

 

[The Great Weal]

Every trade deadline there are a handful of players that get traded for a 1st. Out of 1000 players in the league. The idea that Byron is that player that a GM is going to trade a first for is pretty naive. So question really is would you rather have the 50th pick in 2020 or Byron? Cause Byron for a first while possible is mostly fantasy.

Almost as much of a fantasy as thinking he would have only gotten us a late 2nd. Considerably shittier players have gotten more than a late 2nd.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

i mean really deserves it and he is a great player to watch

but we should have traded him.

Unless we trade Shaw and someone else , this is bad for habs for rebuild

 

[The Great Weal]

Plekanec was brought in for one year, nevertheless. He'll help in that department but it's not like he'll show the kids everything in one year and then they're ready once he goes. Someone like Byron can help keep it going after Plekanec is gone again.

Also, signing vets in free agency every year is not the best way to get the kids ready. They'll keep having new "teachers" every year instead of having some stability with some teammates.

And you're right. We don't know if Byron would have come back as a free agent like Plekanec did. But I'm more than fine if the organization decided not to find out. It's not that I was opposed to trading Byron. But I think he fits the type of style they want to play and he's made for today's NHL, even at 29 years old.

It's not like the entire forward core has no nhl experience. They aren't rookies, they have played a good bit of nhl games. If Weber and Price, who are signed for the next decade, aren't here to help young players by showing leadership,this franchise is even worse than I thought.

 

[Deebs]

Considering that there was a real chance of getting a 1st back, I think he could have been one if those guys. I would definitely welcome him back as a free agent.

1st would be a stretch imo, but a 2nd was probable

 

[BaseballCoach]

Once again Bergevin does not know anything about asset management....trade Byron get assets back then sign him......so he signs 31 year old Byron but will not sign the better player 31 year old Radulov.

You know, it's funny. Lots of people, me included, were disappointed we did not re-sign Radulov. But had we done so and not finished final four last year, the pro-tankers would be calling for us to dump him to open a roster spot, and yet I see many of the pro-tank posters were part of the group that were not happy Radulov was not signed.

I think most of us will feel better when Marc Bergevin is fired and someone else takes over the rebuild.

 

[Deebs]

[tweet]

 

[The Great Weal]

1st would be a stretch imo, but a 2nd was probable

2nd+ was guaranteed. A great year by Byron could not a 1st. Far from a guarantee, but a possibility.

 

[Gravity]

Stupid. Might as well extend Plekanec since preseason !

 

[ottawa]

Hartman, Hansen(1st like prospect), Hanzal, Eaves, Perron,Vermette...etc.

I think the last 10 trades are more reflective on how the market is valuing 1st round picks more than your trades that date as far back to 2014 IIRC.

Hanzal/Hartman (23 yo former 1st) are the two recent ones from 2017/18 and were brutal though...I think those steals are more unlikely than you think though. Just look at what the recent 1st trades were involved in.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

Typical Bergevin move. I hate this contract. There's a logjam at the position of winger. Byron is a small player in a team that already counts too many of them. And I doubt he'll keep that pace very long. I see him not lasting many years in his "prime".

He'd be the first guy I would have traded. Get this guy on another team and he'll pull a Vrbata/Grabner and fall back into irrelevance.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Really saw us trading him honestly but really happy with this signing. Despite a huge overhaul on offense he's someone I'm happy to keep. But it really makes you wonder who Bergevin plans on getting rid of.. We just dont have the room

Room for whom? DeLaRose or Peca? That would be Plekanec. On the wing? What is the rush?

If I were GM, I'd be happy to trade from a position of strength and maybe move a good winger for a good D. But in the meantime, you secure your assets and securing Byron is a positive, especially if what you want is a fast, hustling team with some skill.