The Byram Dilemma: Should Joe Run With Bo?

Cale Makar was such a breath of fresh air for the Avalanche in the playoffs once his NCAA season had ended. He jumped right into the NHL  playoffs against his hometown team, looking like a five-year pro.

Bo Byram and his Vancouver Giants are primed for yet another deep WHL run. After a slow start to the season, the Giants have been one of the hottest teams down the stretch and look to be ‘back’. But IF the Giants are to stumble like drunk uncle Barry at the family Christmas party, would the Avs entertain Playoff Bo? Keep in mind: the WHL playoffs start March 27, with the Avs’ first-round playoff series not starting until April 7 or 8, most likely.

X-Factor Potential For A Potential Showdown

In my not-so-humble opinion, Byram would be a massive playoff x-factor. At full health, on paper, it would be hard to squeeze him in. Yet again, would it? The blue-line hasn’t exactly been the gospel of late, with several regulars seeing extended time on the pine. I don’t think Bednar has total confidence in his horses. Would he be confident in trusting a rookie come playoffs? I’ll let you answer that.

Does the potential match-up come into consideration? With the Avalanche just hobbling along waiting for healthy bodies, the Stars are looming as the most likely round-one opponent. The Stars are one of the more intriguing teams in the league, and would make for a hard matchup. They get the league”s best goaltending but rank just 28th for offense. They play a physical, neutral-zone clogging, frustrating style. The Avalanche are 0-4 (well, OK, 0-2-2) against the Stars this season and have not scored any more than two goals in any game. Is that alarming? Well, I think so.

So how would Byram be of benefit?

The Concoction For Victory

How do you beat them? You outskate them. They don’t score a lot; they shut you down. The more you can break their defensive containment, better the chance of winning. They defend the blue-line so well; you enter the zone and face just a wall of bodies. They aren’t overly quick, but they just have great systems and have stellar one-on-one defenders. You have to be able to find ways to create zone entries and retain the puck, otherwise you are forced into shots that you simply don’t want to take.

In Byram, you get someone who can break lines, retain the puck and can play either side of special teams. Do you get any better on defense by having Byram? Sure. Some of the vets haven’t quite been to standard of late, but they still know how to perform at a higher level. Everyone has off days, right? So my answer is no. You don’t get better in your own end with Bo. But the need against the Stars isn’t necessarily out-and-out defense, it’s offense.

I’ve watched a lot of Byram this season. He’s a freakin’ Ferrari nowadays. He is much sounder in his own end and he has added more weight to his frame. He doesn’t get pushed around anymore. I don’t think he’s going to be a liability like many will say, but his offense, for me, is a tipping point.  I am not in panic mode. More so, I can see what hasn’t worked and possibly see a solution.

Who Gets To Sip Pepsi With Dater?

So who would sit in the pressers if he were to play? I know this is a hard call, but for me, it’s Ian Cole on a short leash. Not necessarily in Game 1, but if things were to travel down that same old road maybe through two-games, It’s Ian. Over the last two seasons, nobody has had worse showings consistently against Dallas (as you can see below)

They just seem to have his number. He’s had two good outings in eight games and that is about it. Relative to his teammates, he’s been average for the most part. I think they pick their spots with Ian, as they know he has the least skating ability of any defender on the team and opponents can find ways to penetrate on him. Cole has still been fortunate enough to be on the ice for some goals for and not really many against, but it’s offense that is needed against Dallas. Byram gives you skating ability and offense off the rush. His speed pushes people to the outside when entering the zone and when exiting the zone. He has elite offensive potential. That is something we’ve missed in volume against a stifling Stars’ outfit.

I’m an Ian Cole fan, don’t get me wrong. He’s a consummate professional who is great at his job. But this also comes down to Sakic and Bednar.  I think there has to be a vibe of risk versus reward against the Stars, stubbornness needs to be put aside. Match-up wise, is Byram actually worse off than Cole? I certainly don’t think so.

The proof is in the stats. The Stars just know how to stifle our star players. That leaves us with a lack of punch, in my eyes, Bo Byram could well be the uppercut needed in the late rounds to put (potentially) put Dallas to the canvas.

The Implications

Playing Byram in these playoffs would come at a cost. If he exceeds his nine-game limit, that means the first year of his ELC will be used up. To me, it doesn’t overly matter though. With decisions to be made on Zadorov and Graves to be made, Cole closing in on UFA next season, one believes it’s only a matter of time before we see him, regularly. Also too, if he does help win you a series or two, isn’t that also worth it? If the Cole that shows up against Dallas eventuates or Z doesn’t cut it…

Can’t die wondering, if I’m Joe.