Each day this week leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21 in Vancouver, we will be taking a look at the top prospects available for the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 3 pick.
Eighth in the series of prospect profiles is defenseman Bowen Byram.
Bowen Byram 2018–19 Team: Vancouver Giants, WHL Date of Birth: June 13, 2001 Place of Birth: Cranbrook, BC, Canada Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 194 pounds Shoots: Left Position: Defense NHL Central Scouting final ranking: #2, North American skaters NHL comparables: Scott Neidermayer/Drew Doughty
In a draft year where, as Wiz paraphrased Oprah on Rinkcast 53, “everyone gets a car,” Byram is the finely tuned Porsche you want when you’re navigating tight curves in the Alps, swagging it on the streets of Zurich, or opening it up on the Autobahn.
An über-smooth, powerful, 360 degree skater, Byram is close to a total package defender—although average-sized and in need of further work on defensive recognition. The major hallmark of Byram’s game is elite offensive skill, where his skating and stickhandling are on par with high-skill wingers. Add to that a unique ability to recognize soft spots and blown coverages by opponents in the offensive zone, coupled with an accurate wrist shot and a sneaky good one-timer.
But there’s more.
Byram can pass the puck, either in tight areas or making an accurate, perfectly timed stretch pass through two zones.
But, it would be unfair and inaccurate to call Byram a purely offensive defenseman. His skating enables him to both close and cover superbly skating backward; he will work at stopping the opponent. And he will throw a check and seal his man off. But like a lot of young defensemen with substantial offensive gifts, he will pinch deep and sometimes get caught. Like our comparable Scott Neidermayer did in his stellar career, Byram will need to adjust to the NHL and gain greater discipline in his reads.
Finally, Byram has a little nasty to his game, and as he is fairly developed physically—but not completely so—there is probably no cause for worry as to whether he will handle the physicality of the NHL.
Projection
#1 defenseman/team captain.
At 18 years of age, this is a supremely gifted player who is arguably near NHL ready—and yet still has more room to fill out and improve the mental aspects of his game.
His maturity and leadership qualities are said to be off the charts. In the words of one scout recently, “he gets it.”
The only question here, as mentioned previously, is his eventual assimilation of a more disciplined 3-zone game in the NHL. But that, unlike native skills and abilities that can’t be coached, can to a large extent be taught and drilled into a player.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Huge.
Byram literally has to be at the center of the Hawks’ discussions around what to do with the third pick.
First, there is an argument that no current Hawk prospect, including last year’s first rounder Adam Boqvist, selected 8th overall, truly projects as a #1 defenseman. Some have characterized taking Byram as a binary choice—you have Boqvist, why take Byram? But it isn’t. They play different sides—so they could conceivably play together. Also, Byram is more physically stout at a similar stage of development and seems to have more of an appetite for the physical aspects of the game—in addition to elite offensive skill—suggesting he may be better suited as a true #1.
Second, it is likely the Hawks are getting calls from other teams wanting to trade up and take Byram, as he is really the only top-quality defenseman available this year. Detroit (6th overall), Edmonton (8th), and LA (5th) are said to all covet Byram. Depending on how much a team wants Byram—and if the Hawks feel they can afford to pass on him—the added assets to Chicago in such a deal could be significant.
Third, because selecting a left-side player of Byram’s playing style might make Erik Gustafsson superfluous. And soon. There’s an argument that, if he isn’t already, Byram will soon be a better overall player than Gustafsson, who is nearly ten years older. Instead of eventually extending Gustafsson for big money, selecting Byram could give Stan Bowman the luxury of trading Gustafsson for decent return—perhaps even a late first round selection in this loaded draft— before his current deal expires.
What others are saying
“Controls the game … plays with swagger … smart and skilled … plays in all situations … doesn’t panic with the puck … good support of his partner.”
—ISS Hockey 2017