The Avalanche saw exactly what they needed to from Bowen Byram

IRVINE, Calif. — Every prospect has to take certain steps before breaking into the NHL and making it to the big time. For most, it’s a systematic process that takes years of development and honing of their skills to carve out a specific niche in the world’s most talented league.

Even wunderkind and new media darling Cale Makar spent two years in college before making the leap to the Avalanche.

For Bowen Byram, that’s all for the birds.

The fourth overall pick of last June’s draft, Byram is coming off a season in which he scored 26 goals and put up higher point totals than some of his fellow first-rounders from the WHL.

He then carried the Vancouver Giants on his back to Game 7 of the WHL Finals, becoming the first defenseman to ever lead the WHL playoffs in scoring.

Starting during the pre-draft process, Byram made no secret of his desire to jump to the NHL immediately and skip all of those steps prospects normally take. Getting drafted by the Avalanche, one of the hotter rising commodities in the NHL, would seem to make that mountain even tougher to climb simply because of the talent already present along their blueline.

Byram’s case for making the NHL roster began out here in California in the Rookie Faceoff. Byram played in the team’s 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights and was, to my eye, Colorado’s best player on the ice.

Following the win, Byram wasn’t having any of that kind of talk, instead choosing to stick with the tried and true hockey cliches.

“It was really fun,” Byram said. “I think it was a fast-paced, pretty physical game. To get out there and get in the first game was fun.”

It probably helped his enjoyment that he was clearly the best player on the ice and dictated several of the shifts with his strong two-way play. He got hemmed in his own zone early in the first period but after that, the puck more frequently went the other way than threatened Byram’s net.

There isn’t a chance Byram makes the Avalanche without being mature beyond his years and despite widely being accepted as one of the best players today, he was more focused on what needs to be improved than patting himself on the back.

“The first game is always a little bit sloppy,” Byram said. “I think there’s definitely room to improve in a lot of areas for myself and for the team as well. It’s a good starting point but I think everyone has to go up from here.”

When pressed on where he has to go in order to improve, Byram didn’t hesitate.

“Everywhere defensively,” he said. “I think I can get better. Moving the puck quicker…like I said, I think it was a good start but there’s a lot of room to improve.”

The easy way with which he handled his business led to a performance where he notched two assists and registered one shot on goal. Following the game, Byram wasn’t even aware he was awarded multiple assists.

“Oh, really?” Byram asked when told he did find his way into the scoring summary. “In a game like that, I think you’re just trying to get used to everything, your teammates and whatnot. There’s a lot of different d-men so it’s tough to get out there with new guys but it’s a lot of fun as well.”

One of those d-men Byram was trying to find a comfort zone with was Conor Timmins, who was playing his first game in a year and a half after missing all of last season with a concussion. For his money, Byram is buying stock in the Timmins redemption story.

“It was his first game back and I was really impressed with how he played,” Byram said. “I think he was really good on both sides of the puck, created offense, defended well. It was really fun.”

The pairing gave Avs fans a glimpse of the future as both players are expected to eventually find their way to the Avalanche blueline.

Given the showing from Byram today, there’s no need for him to continue to dominate his peer group. His all-time great season in the WHL and today’s performance all serve to show Colorado’s front office that he is ready to skip those normal prospect steps en route to the NHL.

Byram still needs to show he can play at this level against NHL players but there’s no need to risk injury the rest of this weekend.

If he can pass that final test, we should be seeing him on opening night in an Avalanche sweater.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Byram wasn’t the only top prospect to live up to his hype. Timmins was very strong in his first game back from injury. You’d never know he hadn’t played a game since May 2018 with the attacking mentality he played with today. Extremely encouraging overall performance.
• Shane Bowers centered Colorado’s top line between Nick Henry and Martin Kaut. They showed chemistry from the start and all three found themselves on the scoresheet at the end of the game. Bowers finished with a goal and an assist and played the kind of mature two-way game that will appeal strongly to the Avalanche decision-makers.
• Henry also finished with a goal and an assist but it was very close to two goals. His shot on the PP got through the Vegas goaltender before landing in the crease and Bowers powered through the defense to push it in. His goal was an absolute snipe (as seen above) and the shooting ability he has been known for was easily the trait most on display today.
• The third man on the line, Kaut, also nabbed an assist (on Henry’s first goal) and played a steady 200-foot game. He was also involved in most of the post-whistle scrums that took place in this game. He played with more of an edge than I expect to see from him.
• Colorado’s overall skating was noteworthy and Logan O’Connor leads that bunch. Holy smokes can he fly. His hands are a little iffy but his skating most certainly belongs in the NHL.
• Alex Beaucage came into the game with the hype of a sniper and I don’t think he disappointed. One of the big questions I have about him is whether or not the strong stickhandling in tight spaces he exhibited in the QMJHL would continue against higher-caliber defenses and it did at least once today. He received a pass in the middle of the ice, held off the defender, and whipped a backhander that just missed the net.
• Kevin Davis and Peter Tischke will fly under the radar but I really liked both of their games today. Davis really moves the puck efficiently and Tischke played strong defense and also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with five. Not a bad day for a couple of guys on AHL contracts.
• Speaking of, Hunter Miska was okay but I liked what I saw from Trent Miner a bit more. Goaltending is weird, though.