Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – Bo Byram was able to play 18 games with the Buffalo Sabres after being traded from the Colorado Avalanche back on March 6.
The left-shot defenseman had three goals and six assists for nine points, but after a good first few games, he seemed very confused with the defensive system of head coach Don Granato.
Byram is currently playing for Canada at the World Championship in Czechia, and has a goal and two assists for three points in three games. Byram is now playing for Utah’s coach Andre Tourigny, and has looked pretty good.
After the season, Byram talked about playing with players around his age of 22. That would include Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Ryan Johnson, Peyton Krebs, Devon Levi, Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka and Owen Power. At the time, Lindy Ruff wasn’t even the head coach of the team yet.
"I think we have a motivated group in here of guys that want to win, and be in the fight. So it’s a big summer for everyone," said Byram during his end-of-season press conference.
As I listened to his comments, having Ruff as his new head coach doesn’t really change how he feels about this team. Marty Wilford, with help from Dan Girardi, did a good job with the defense, and Wilford will have the same job under Ruff.
"We have a lot of good players in here, and at the end of the day, we take accountability for how we performed," Byram said. "I’m excited for the future, and going forward it’s going to be exciting, because every new year brings a new challenge. We have a lot of guys with a lot of drive in this room."
I think it’s very perceptive of Byram, because every season is different and you never pick up where you left off.
That was the biggest mistake of the last offseason from the general manager down through the players. They thought they were all set and would pick up where they left off when they were just one point short of the playoffs. Captain Kyle Okposo warned them a lot about how that doesn’t happen, but it fell on deaf ears.
Listening to Byram, you could tell he was frustrated with his play during his short time in Buffalo.
"It’s never easy," he admitted. "Coming in halfway through a year, it was a bit of a gong show at times, but it's what we signed up for and it’s part of the job. I feel like when I first got here, I just went out and played. I thought I was playing some of my best hockey, but as time goes on and you’re trying to learn how the coaches want you to play and learn new systems, it can make things difficult.
"I felt like for a stretch, I was thinking too much. I think when I go out and play and just try to trust my instincts, it’s when I play my best. I need to be accountable with myself, because I wasn’t good enough for some parts, so it’ll be nice to come into training camp and get my feet under me again."
The Sabres played better defensively after the first of the new year, but they still turned the puck over too much, which took them out of what little structure they had. Having structure will change under Ruff.
Byram talked about what the next head coach gets, because Ruff hadn’t been hired yet.
"I think the next coach is coming into a good situation," Byram said at the time. "He’s got a lot of good young players to work with, and to mold us into the style that he wants us to play."
Byram feels he fit in pretty well with his new team, and this is a team he wants to be on.
The 22-year-old mentioned when he first got here that if he were to be traded anywhere, he wanted to come to Buffalo to join people he knows like Cozens, Krebs, Quinn and Levi. He also had played with Erik Johnson and Tyson Jost, but neither will likely be here next season.
"I want to be part of the solution here. I want to help this team win, and I’m super excited to be here," Byram said.
Byram started playing with Dahlin when he first arrived to town. It worked very well to start, but then it didn’t. After that, he was paired, at times, with Henri Jokiharju and Owen Power.
It’ll be interesting to see if Ruff wants him on the first pair with Dahlin. Samuelsson will be back in the mix too likely for Jacob Bryson, and one of them will have to go down to the third pair to play with Connor Clifton.
When I was looking at the ages of the players, if Zemgus Girgensons goes to free agency and Jeff Skinner is bought out of his contract, Clifton would be the oldest Sabres player at age 29, while Alex Tuch would be next oldest at 28.
That, of course, can change depending on trades and signings this offseason.
