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In Hainsight: A New Beginning for Paul Byron |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Paul Byron arrived in Montreal after being waived by the Calgary Flames because there just wasn’t any room for him with Bob Hartley’s team, but he sure found a way to stick in the Canadiens’ line-up. He might not have been the most talented player of the top point producer, but Byron has showed himself to be a kind of Swiss army knife player, the kind of guy that’s so valuable to a coach.
This morning, after 521 games played in the NHL and what seemed like a never-ending battle to get healthy, Byron decided to hang up his skates for good and announced his retirement in a letter addressed to the fans. While he thanks the fans in his statement, he also thanks everyone who has been involved in his career and every organization who believed in him when so many people wouldn’t.
The letter is a retrospective of a career that was never easy but that still exceeded Byron’s wildest dreams, as he says it himself, going from playing in Junior B to being an alternate captain with the Sainte-Flanelle is quite something. Throughout his 12-year career in the NHL, he scored 98 goals, 110 assists for 208 points. Byron wasn’t all about the points though, he was a player who was never afraid to sacrifice his body and an excellent example for every player he played with. In his better years, his speed was something to behold, and I believe no Canadiens’ fans will ever forget that breakaway goal in the 2021 playoffs against the Leafs when he scored from his knees.
Byron’s contract expired at the end of last season and given the fact that he hadn’t played a single game in 2022-2023 and only 27 matches in the previous season, everyone was aware that the end was coming for Byron. At the end of last season, he had said himself that he might be interested in a coaching role with the Canadiens.
Last week, it was mentioned that over the Summer, the Byron family welcomed Logan Mailloux in their home and the Canadiens’ prospect was very grateful for everything he was able to pick up from Byron this off season.
Shortly after his retirement was announced, the Canadiens issued a press release that Byron would be added to the team’s staff as a Player Development consultant working alongside Rob Ramage and Adam Nicholas. He’ll be joining the players on the ice, but also oversee their progression off the ice. In other words, the mentoring role he took on this summer with Logan Mailloux is now official.
It’s a shame that Byron didn’t get to end his career on his own terms, but at least, he’s landed on his feet, and he’s already got a new job with the team. In the end, the Canadiens’ magical cup run in 2021 which Byron says he will never forget, will have ended three careers for the Canadiens: Carey Price, Shea Weber and Paul Byron. Even though Byron is the only one who’s announced his retirement to this day, because he didn’t have a contract as a player anymore. The minute Price’s and Weber’s contract end, they’ll be announcing what everyone already knows.
Thank you for the memories, Paul Byron and thanks for fighting for your dream and finding your way to Montreal, the fans will never forget you and everyone hope you’ll enjoy your new role with the Habs.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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