Habster:
Count to 10 and take a deep breath, Rocket!!!…..I don’t think it’s a bad thing for Ryan O’Byrne to watch one game from the press box as it will give him a different perspective of the game.
On a few occasions, I’ve heard players say they benefited from spending one or two games in the press box (higher vantage point) to gain a better understanding of certain aspects of the game: breakouts, defensive zone coverage, reading how a team traps…..etc.
Now, with that being said, I emphasize (in bright red, no less!!) that a one or two game hiatus in the press box is all that’s needed for a player like Ryan O’Byrne to better understand what it takes to improve his play. It should also help motivate him to be better and how his play will dictate whether he spends more time in the “bird’s nest” or along side Roman Hamrlik.
You are asking too much Habster. I was asked to be patient with #71 until Bouillon returned to the lineup. I was told that it was obvious that the pathetic Patrice Brisebois would sit in the press box and would only be used in an injury-replacement situation. Personally, I would much prefer one of Kim St-Pierre’s teammates in that role rather than Brise.
Now that Bouillon is back, O’Byrne sits?? That is pure insanity!
O’Byrne has played well this season, being second only to Komisarek in hits and blocked shots by the ‘D’ on most nights. He was fighting the puck a little against Florida but recovered well. His bobbles on that night were certainly not on the level of the miscues committed by Brise.
O’Byrne sat for half of the Panther game and now will be up in the press box for the Ducks. Ryan needs icetime and confidence. Oh, by the way, who will match the size and physicality of the Duck’s forwards like Getzlaf, Perry and Kunitz? Perhaps Brisebois? Gorges? Bouillon? Not likely!
Brise over O’Byrne? This decision does not happen if these two players are on any other team in the NHL. And the only reason it happens in Montreal is that Carbonneau continues to cave to media pressure and then is protected when he does something so moronic.
“Robert Lang centred Tom Kostopoulos and Steve Bégin. There’s a line that strikes terror into the heart of Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer and François Beauchemin.” He’s being sarcastic, right? Isn’t he? Sometimes, I just don’t get Boone.
Higgins practising on the 4th line signals to me that he won’t be playing on Saturday. However, if Chris plays, and plays with the 4th line….
Well…I’ll withhold judgement for now and assume Higgs wont be playing.
O’Byrne is marginal as an NHLer, and will never be more than that. Alex Henry was a full time NHL defenseman for a couple of seasons when he was about the same age as O’Byrne is now.
You really have to wonder where Bob had his head when he traded a high second round pick for Lang, at 4 million a season. That was just plain stupid.
Well Rob, if O’Byrne is only a marginal NHL’er, would that put Brisebois in the ECHL?
Here’s an opposing view from yours on Ryan O’Byrne from Future Prospects:
Talent Analysis
O’Byrne is a big body who brings toughness, solid positional play, and defensive ability to the lineup. His greatest asset is his size, which makes him an intimidating physical presence, particularly around his own net.
Future
The big, burly blueliner has firmly established himself as a top-four blueliner already in his young career. Absent a strong offensive game, O’Byrne should remain a fixture on the club’s second or third defensive pairing. His physical presence and powerful defensive play make him a valued asset for the club’s future.
System Audit
The burly Ryan O’Byrne has solidified a roster spot with the Canadiens thanks to his solid defensive play and imposing physical presence. He scored seven points in 33 games, but it was his awareness in his own end and crease-clearing abilities that truly endeared him to the club’s brass. While he will never be among the league’s elite blueliners, he’s a solid anchor on the second pair and should retain that role for years to come.
Rob & Rocket,
Brisebois is marginally decent on the PP but beyond that, he's weak!!
I will be surprised if he doesn't struggle against a very physical team like the Ducks who have size at the forward position.
As you said, Rocket, O'Byrne would have been a better choice to play with his size and good skating.
Well, I think the last lines of the Future Prospects article pretty much tell you how relevant it is.
Obviously O’Byrne is not “..a solid anchor on the second pairing..”, nor is he likely to “..remain for years to come..”. Carbo didn’t even trust him on the ice during the playoffs, except when he had no other alternative, last season.
There is absolutely nothing in his background to suggest that he will be a long term top 4 defenseman. He is just keeping a seat warm until Mathieu Carle or Yannick Weber is ready to take over on the right side. Beyond those two you have the likes of Philippe Paquet, David Fischer, P.K. Subban, and Greg Pateryn.
I agree with your comment Habster, but let me just make one addition:
“Brisebois is marginally decent on the PP” in 1993!
Brise fixes himself like a potted plant on the right point on the PP. Effective powerplays haven’t been run like that for 10 years. It’s fine if the puck comes to him but otherwise he destroys the rotating scheme of his teammates.
In addition, heaven help him (and the team) if a puck gets chipped past him. I think Elmer Lach can still outskate him!
Rob,
Pateryn, Fischer, Subban and Paquet are all still pretty raw. They are years away from the NHL. Weber and Carle may be great puck movers but aren’t defensively strong. And Weber’s physical game is non-existent. An apples and oranges comparison isn’t it?
I agree with your point about Carbonneau’s confidence in O’Byrne. But I believe that speaks more negatively about Carbo than O’Byrne.
Hey guys,
Carbo has to give O’Byrne some confidence by playing him with a great mentor like Hamrlik for 10-15 games. He should thrive with Hamrlik if given the opportunity.
Rob, I appreciate your knowledge of the Habs prospects but as Rocket said, you have to compare similar defensemen, not just right d-men to right d-men.
Comparing O’Byrne to offensively minded, non physical defensemen like Carle, Weber and Subban isn’t fair. I would prefer to compare him to similar players like Valentenko, McDonagh, Paquet, Pateryn, Stejskal or even Yemelin.
Granted, they’re at diferent levels of their development but they have comparable styles.
All that to say, get Breezeby out of there!!!!
Personally, I think the best bets to fill that right side spot, of the players in the organization, are Carle, Weber, Paquet, and Pateryn. I think all four of those prospects have better tools than O’Byrne at a comparable stage. Paquet and Pateryn are good sized physical defenders, but as you say, both are a ways off.
I’ve about written David Fischer off completely, I think that there is serious doubt he will ever play in the NHL. I’m also skeptical about Subban, he seems like Carle or Weber with less hockey sense.
Last season, Mark Streit filled the fourth defense spot as much as anyone, and that worked out O.K. Carle and Weber are quite similar to Streit in terms of size and style of play.
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