What Does Bowen Byram Need to Become for the Avalanche?

[Spirits]

What does he need to develop into for us to succeed (win cups/become a regular post season force etc)? Top pairing guy? Top 4? Shutdown Defender? PP QB #2?

As a separate question what do you think he will end up developing into? What is his floor and what is his ceiling? What is the minimum to make you happy with the 4th overall pick?

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[Cousin Eddie]

We need him to become a legit #3D. Anything greater than than is bonus.

FTR, I think a legit 3D paired with whatever it is Cale Makar becomes is a high end top pairing.

 

[Balthazar]

1st pairing LHD.

Edit: misunderstood the question. We don't need him for being a contender.

 

[Avs9296]

An enforcer because we need more toughness.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

Some snarl in his game. Good first pass and offensive instincts. Reasonably good defensively.

Basically what EJ is for us now. EJ is still a pretty good straight line skater when he has the room to build up speed. Byram won't be the same. But similar in overall impact and meaner. That would be ideal.

This team will never win the Blues or Bruins way.

Girard Makar and Byram just aren't big or nasty enough. They'll need to win their own way.

 

[Balthazar]

Girard Makar and Byram just aren't big or nasty enough. They'll need to win their own way.

Byram is Doughty's size and has a similar on-ice attitude. He can and probably will play a nasty game.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

Tyson Barrie

 

[Avsboy]

I think Byram is a future captain on this team, either assistant or captain. He has the leadership skills. In terms of play, #2D.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Eventually we need Byram to become a true two-way dman providing around 40-45 pts but also strong defensive play so he can be matched up with Makar. This would allow the Avs to move Girard down to the 2nd pair where he would fit better having less responsibilities and focus more on offense.

 

[Murzu]

Low end top pairing or high end second pairing dman is enough for me.

 

[UncleRisto]

Johnny Gaudreau.

 

[AvsCOL]

I had him in a tier of his own after the big 2 in this past draft, so any less than a top-pairing defender would be a disappointment for me. He's that good.

But what does he NEED to be? Probably a solid two-way #3. We need to hit on one of these LHD outside of Girard.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I need him to be Morgan Reilly.

 

[Mac2Rants]

So, IMO and has been for months now. We need a Suter type D man from him?

 

[Balthazar]

I need him to be Morgan Reilly.

Not this year's version, I hope

 

[Pokecheque]

If he becomes a legit top-four guy who is effective at both ends of the ice, then he'll have fulfilled expectations. If he's anything more than that, gravy.

 

[McMetal]

I mean, anything less than a strong #3 who provides good two-way play would qualify as a disappointment, but honestly I think that's the low end of what we can expect from him.

Probably the most reasonable expectation is prime EJ; an active top pair defenseman who plays excellent defense and solid offense who maybe isn't an ideal #1 but makes an excellent partner for one.

 

[CB Joe]

Hopefully he becomes a poor mans Pronger.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

The Avs don't necessarily need Byram to succeed. However, anything less than a strong #3D would be a big disappointment.

 

[Balthazar]

Ideally he forces Girard on the 2nd pairing for the duration of his new contract (7 years).

However, the draft expectations from most experts were Byram becoming a #1 in the NHL and that didn't change.

 

[AegonLeConqueror]

Better than B. Tkachuk

 

[Spirits]

Eventually we need Byram to become a true two-way dman providing around 40-45 pts but also strong defensive play so he can be matched up with Makar. This would allow the Avs to move Girard down to the 2nd pair where he would fit better having less responsibilities and focus more on offense.

I've never considered those two matched up and was always thinking the 1-2 punch of having them split is nice, but I am daydreaming about this now...

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I don’t know if the Avs future success is contingent on Byram’s development, but if he turns into a legit top pairing defenceman, the Avs will be a cup contender for the remaining prime years of MacKinnon, Rantanen, Makar, and Landy. If Byram pans out, that’s a ridiculously good core. The most challenging part will be managing the cap.

We have a hole on the left side of our top four. It doesn’t have to be Byram, but if he busts they would need to find a way to fill that whole.

As for what I think Byram will be; I have no idea. I felt like coming into the draft he projected to be a top pairing guy, so I’ll stick with that. He’s less dynamic than Makar, but you have to love that he has the clutch gene and does so many things well. I think a Byram-Makar pairing will be instant offence from the backend.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Not this year's version, I hope

Last two years version lol.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Basically he needs to be a top 4 guy. He’s here to replace Z(in general) and ideally G from the top pairing slot. But as long as we have Girard who looks like he’ll be a solid 2/3 and Byram who should be a 2d our d core should be set with Makar being the 1D and Timmins being a 2nd pairing guy.