Paul Byron: "Calgary isn't even close to Montreal".

Montreal Canadiens fans were deeply saddened to learn that Paul Byron will officially not be returning to the game, due to his state of health.

At least they can take comfort in the fact that the chances of Ti-Paul getting a job with the organization are pretty good.

Byron has had many problems with injuries throughout his career.

After all, a diminutive 5’9″ forward who plays with such intensity and isn’t afraid to get physical rarely lasts long in the NHL.

Just think of Brendan Gallagher, who is a lot bigger than Byron, whose body is running out of juice due to multiple injuries.

Gallagher is in a class of his own, however, and I think we can all agree on that.

He’s played several full seasons, but not without pain. He’s often played with a hidden injury, always wanting to give his all for his club.

Byron’s career path is rather different from Gallagher’s, even though they were both drafted late and had to work twice as hard.

The short-handed breakaway specialist appeared on the Raw Knuckles podcast, hosted by Chris Nilan and Tim Stapleton.

A number of topics were discussed, including his arrival in Montreal, injuries, the playoffs and the pandemic.

You can watch the entire episode here.

What caught my attention was the big market difference between Calgary and Montreal.

We all know that Montreal is one of the biggest field hockey markets in the NHL, but when players compare their time in Montreal to other cities, that’s when you realize that Montreal is in a class of its own.

First of all, Byron was very happy to arrive in Montreal, coming as he does from Ottawa, which brings him very close to his family.

He mentions that it took him a while to get used to Montreal.

His biggest adjustment was realizing just how big a city Montreal is, and that even if you’re a bottom-6 player, it’s much more common to get noticed.

Byron told a very interesting story, comparing Calgary and Montreal.

“In Calgary, 4th trio players don’t get discounts at the dealership. You can go to the grocery store and no one will recognize you. It was a nice city, good fans, but it’s not even close to being Montreal. First night in Montreal, I went to La Queue de Cheval steakhouse , got a steak, sat at the bar and the bartender knew exactly who I was.” – Paul Byron

Byron hadn’t played a single game with the CH, it was his first night in town and he’s already getting recognized in restaurants, something that would never have happened in Calgary.

Especially for a fourth-row player who’s just been called up.

It was at that precise moment that I realized just how much Montrealers love field hockey, and how much fans want to recognize CH players on a daily basis.

Byron also took the opportunity to offer some advice to young players.

“You have to be great every game. I think that’s the hardest thing to learn as a young player. In Montreal, the media are always there, talking about it. The coaches and the GM are watching you every day.” – Paul Byron

What is the biggest learning curve in the NHL?

🎧: https://t.co/mRBAGPEKSl
🍎 : https://t.co/L6QTN3zl1T
📺 : https://t.co/YNanNXv01f#Ra wKnucklesPodcast #GoHabsGo #PaulByron pic.twitter.com/CvW6wwoNx8

– The Raw Knuckles Podcast (@RawKnucklesPod) August 27, 2023