Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Paul Byron has most likely performed his final NHL recreation

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It appears — and sounds — like Paul Byron’s hockey profession is over.

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The veteran Canadiens ahead simply isn’t able to admit it but.

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Byron, who will flip 34 on April 27, was positioned on long-term injured reserve the day earlier than this season began and he didn’t play a single recreation. Byron solely performed 27 video games final season whereas making an attempt to return from hip surgical procedure he had in July 2021.

Byron hoped to play this season, however mentioned he realized final summer season whereas making an attempt to prepare for coaching camp that it wouldn’t occur. Each time he tried to skate he was in ache and he was additionally struggling ache when enjoying together with his children. He mentioned one other operation just isn’t an choice at this level.

“Simply years and years of quite a lot of put on and tear,” Byron mentioned when the Canadiens met with the media final Friday at their Brossard follow rink for the ultimate time this season. “I had the operation to repair my hip and hoped it could assist issues after which the damage final yr actually took its toll on the physique and nonetheless making an attempt to get better from that.”

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This was the final season of Byron’s four-year, US$13.6-million contract with a $3.4 million salary-cap hit that didn’t rely towards the Canadiens’ group cap this season as a result of he was on long-term injured reserve. Byron can turn out to be an unrestricted free agent this summer season.

Byron mentioned that in his head he nonetheless needs to play, however as every day passes he realizes how far more tough that might be. He needs to take a while to talk together with his household, his dad and mom and his agent earlier than making a choice to retire. He’s not prepared to do this simply but, however mentioned he is likely to be in one other week or month.

Byron was in a position to have fun a milestone final season when he performed in his five hundredth profession recreation, scoring a aim together with his spouse and two youngsters in attendance on the Bell Centre because the Canadiens beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in extra time. Taking part in 500 video games within the NHL is a powerful accomplishment for a 5-foot-9, 158-pound ahead who was a sixth-round choose of the Buffalo Sabres on the 2007 NHL Draft and was claimed by the Canadiens off waivers from the Calgary Flames earlier than the beginning of the 2015-16 season.

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If Byron’s profession is certainly over, he’ll retire with 98-110-208 totals in 521 video games. Solely 23 gamers chosen on the 2007 draft have extra factors than Byron, who was picked 179th general by Buffalo. Byron mentioned he has no regrets about his profession and doesn’t want he had stopped enjoying earlier regardless of the ache he’s experiencing now in his hip. He mentioned if he may do it over once more he wouldn’t change a factor.

Although Byron didn’t play this season, he spent quite a lot of time across the group and watched some video games on the Bell Centre within the administration loge with Jeff Gorton, the chief vice-president of hockey operations, and basic supervisor Kent Hughes.

“I simply love the sport,” Byron mentioned. “I like being right here. I like watching the video games. That’s why when Jeff and Kent requested me to observe the video games with them I took an opportunity to go there, watch the sport from a greater angle, get to know them, get to study issues about them. I requested to be a part of the group shifting ahead and transition into a distinct function, in order that may very well be a think about my determination going ahead what I do.

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“New administration, new groups, they don’t know you,” Byron added. “They don’t know your particular person, your character. So I simply took the time to form of be there, put myself on the market and allow them to get to know me and the form of particular person I’m.”

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Byron likes what he noticed from the Canadiens on the ice this season.

“I feel we’ve nowhere to go however up from right here, truthfully,” he mentioned. “It’s been a tough yr, slightly bit powerful to evaluate the group on the finish with so many accidents and stuff. However there’s quite a lot of actually, actually good items within the group. Loads of actually good gamers. We’re going to get one other actually good participant on this draft developing right here. It’s very thrilling, to be sincere with you. … I feel this group is on the correct path to be an excellent group within the close to future.”

Byron additionally thinks he may assist the Canadiens in participant improvement since he would be capable to share his experiences and educate a few of the classes he discovered each on and off the ice throughout his 12 seasons within the NHL. Byron would even be an excellent match as a group ambassador since he’s bilingual and one of many only a few gamers who dwell in Montreal year-round.

There are only a few athletes I’ve met who I respect and admire extra as an individual than Byron.

The Canadiens could be sensible to maintain him in a brand new function after he formally retires.

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