The change of scenery was a boon to Byron, eventually leading to him signing a four-year, $13.6 million contract extension on September 23 and also to being named an alternate captain.
"It's a nice reward which is fully deserved. At every training camp, he had to prove himself and show the team that he could be one of the 12 forwards," outlined Gelinas. "Now, everyone knows that he's an NHL-caliber player who is able to contribute, and I'm sure he's going to continue on that path for a long time."
An emotional departure
At the time when Byron was claimed by the Canadiens, Bob Hartley was head coach of the Flames and Gelinas recalls the reaction his former colleague had when the 5-foot-9 forward was picked up.
"Bob was always a solid coach, who didn't show a lot of emotion. I remember that when Paul left Calgary, Bob became very emotional," recounted Gelinas. "He knew we had just lost a very good player. It shows how much he liked Paul Byron."
Just one more piece of evidence that Byron is as well-respected a player as they come in the NHL.