Paul Byron with the Senators? Two journalists are talking about this possibility and it's one to watch

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Jeff Drouin
September 15, 2022 (10:41)

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If there has been a lot of talk about Jonathan Drouin's health problems over the past three seasons, there is another Habs player who has not been spared from injuries, namely a certain Paul Byron.

The small forward has only played 102 games since the 2019-2020 season and it is possible that he could miss the start of the season, as he had hip surgery during the off-season.

Let's just say that with the uncertainty surrounding him but also the fact that the Habs are relying on a surplus of forwards, maybe a change of scenery could do him good.

That's what reporter Arpon Basu mentioned on the The Athletic Support podcast and, along with Marc-Antoine Godin, the two even brought up the possibility of Byron being tendered and claimed by the Ottawa Senators.

"A young team like the Ottawa Senators, they could look at a veteran like Paul Byron and say, 'I'd like to have a player like that to help our young guys and play a role in the playoffs if we ever get there.' And I think the Senators are hoping to be in the playoffs."

Basu even argues that it would, in some ways, be a relief for Kent Hughes if he had to lose Byron in any way. No. 41 will be an uncompensated free agent next summer, and the idea of him joining a team on the rise like the Senators makes a lot of sense.

Plus, he's a local native, which would be a perfect fit for him and he'd be joining a former teammate with the Gatineau Olympiques, namely a certain Claude Giroux.

Now, this is speculation here, but since Byron is probably in his last few miles in a Habs uniform, he might as well end up with a team with playoff aspirations.