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10-19-2007, 01:41 AM
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#46
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Idi Admin
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TO....Land o' Leafs
Posts: 24,395
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Re: Les Habitants Prospects Thread
It's just a matter of time for O'Byrne
Canadiens prospect working hard. 'All I can do is wait for my chance and hope that I'm ready,' hulking defenceman says
JOHN MEAGHER, The Gazette
Published: 21 hours ago
Ryan O'Byrne admits he was disappointed to be the last defenceman cut by the Canadiens at last month's training camp. But the hulking 6-foot-6, 228-pound defenceman is determined to make the best of his situation with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.
O'Byrne is off to a promising start with three assists in three games. He is also a solid plus-4 for the Bulldogs, who have posted a 2-0-0-1 record. Ryan O'Byrne is logging more than 20 minutes per game with the Hamilton Bulldogs this season. More importantly, from a developmental standpoint, he is logging more than 20 minutes per game.
"It's been great so far," he said. "I'm playing in all situations, power play and penalty killing. I came down with a ton of confidence, being one of the last cuts.
"Obviously, the AHL is not the NHL, in terms of calibre, but it's still a great league."
O'Byrne has a two-way contract that facilitated his return to the AHL. He accepted the Canadiens' verdict to go with veteran rearguards like Patrice Brisebois.
"The Canadiens have a lot of proven defenders up there who've played 100-plus or a 1,000-plus NHL games," O'Byrne said. "I'm only in my second year of pro, out of college.
"It's one of these things where it's not going to hurt me coming back to the AHL and playing a lot of minutes."
"The Canadiens just told me to go back there and work on all facets of my game," he said. "They told me I had a good camp and looked strong, but they said just to work on moving the puck quicker, make sure you never get beat one-on-one, and just try to dominate games. Basically, try to be the best player on the ice some nights. Get the experience. ... Make a good first pass. Every team needs one of those guys."
O'Byrne, 23, has meshed well with defence partner Pavel
"I think we play similar styles. We're both physical players. He doesn't speak English really well, but he understands the game of hockey."
O'Byrne leads the Bulldogs in penalty minutes with 10 - all minors. Last season, he picked up seven fighting majors among his 129 penalty minutes. He said he'll fight when necessary.
"They don't talk to me about dropping the gloves, but it's part of the game," O'Byrne said. "Sometimes you've got to stand up for teammates. I've got no problem fighting. It's something I do once in a while."
O'Byrne, who had 12 assists in 80 AHL games last season, said he felt comfortable rejoining the Bulldogs, the defending AHL Calder Cup champions.
"We have a lot of returning guys, so everybody knows each other," he said.
"We all get along. Even though it's only been three games, the team is playing well."
As for the possibility of getting recalled by the Canadiens this season, O'Byrne says time is on his side.
"All I can do is wait for my chance and hope that I'm ready."
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazett...5-c2ce41a08ef4
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10-19-2007, 09:55 AM
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#48
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All-Star
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,846
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Re: Les Habitants Prospects Thread
Nope, our defense is fine, won't be better with OB yet, in the future it will, as he improves, or we have injuries.
Him playing 20+ minutes a game, further developing skills, maturity and confidence, is perfect.
Remember what worked well for Komo.
Reminder, he's only 2 years out of college hockey. |
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