Paul Byron’s chances of getting back into the game were slim, but now they’re almost non-existent.
During a video press conference Tuesday afternoon, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes confirmed the small forward will be retiring.
“His contract has expired and he has no plans to leave Montreal,” the GM said. So we’re going to talk to him and sit down with Paul in September. »
This discussion will serve to find out what happens next in the case of Byron, who has already indicated that he wants to remain with the Montreal organization in a role that has yet to be defined.
Byron, 34, is probably one of the Canadiens’ best signings in terms of waivers. Left behind by the Calgary Flames, the forward arrived at the Bell Center early in the 2015-2016 season and quickly won over Canadiens fans with his speedy skating and passion.
In the tricolor jersey, he scored 20 or more goals for two seasons and had 43 points in 81 games in the 2016–2017 season with 22 goals and 21 assists.
However, his career took a different turn after a fight with defender MacKenzie Weegar in March 2019 at the Bell Centre. Then continued health problems followed, including having to undergo hip surgery in the summer of 2021 and playing just 27 games in the following 2021-2022 season. He couldn’t take part in a single game last season.
Byron, a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Sabers in 2007, will exit the season with 208 points in 521 NHL games.
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