better to let him wait IMO. Yeah, the CHL is done, but byram based on his current play (he was on the upward trend in 2020 after a pretty bad 2019 part of the season) just doesn't provide the upgrade over Zadorov yet. Maybe give him a game or two to taste the league (and he absolutely has to be paired with your best defensive guy), but i still think that this year, your team runs the best playoff chances with zadorov in.

Correction to your comment- WHL regular season was canceled. They are still trying to have the playoffs and the CHL is working on getting Kelowna ready for the memorial cup.

oh I didnt know that, I thought it was all cancelled.

Hmm well that changes thing, they will all start at the same time

I would agree with you, but I dont know who else to take out haha. Zads was healthy scratched a couple games before the stoppage.
The Byram looking bad part wasn't fully true, I know his numbers didnt pop in October to December but from what Avs coverage guys have said, he was asked by the team to work on his defensive game..which by the looks of things really impacted everything that made him jump off the page last season. After WJC, whatever he was working on, it clicked bc he was back to being dominated and from their coverage said he had a much better overall defensive game too

WHL and CHL is done for him. Regardless he is in the NHL next season no matter what IMO

I loved Zads but his time is done with the team. Byram coming, the coming out party for Graves and Timmins still needing a spot. They are going to trade him.

Who knows.... it could or the CHL might just cancel it all. It’s too up in the air to know.

"he was asked by the team to work on his defensive game..which by the looks of things really impacted everything that made him jump off the page last season."

I think we had this conversation before, and I agree that this skewed his game. However I don't think his defensive game improved much at all in that span. They allowed him to play back to his strengths come January and his play definitely showed that.
I would be afraid to have him in an NHL roster unless he is paired with someone who is defensively strong.

Maybe rotate Zadorov and Byram? See who fares better - then come next year there's room to make a trade.

he we have this convo before. And I dont get to see Byram as much as you do, but im taking the word of the guys who cover the teams prospects for a living.
They have been impressed with his game post WJC. said he was very noticeable and dominate taking over games especially in the last month or so.

To be honest I would love the Avs to move both Cole and Zadorov this offseason, give Byram the 3rd LHS spot and pick a stable RHS dman to pair with him.
Graves Makar works...Girard EJ works....Girard Makar does not work and its way too soon to try Makar Byram

yes his game has been significantly improved in the 2020 year. His defense is definitely still questionable but he is next level in the offensive zone. One thing I don't understand with him though... is he is a left defenseman but he is constantly finding himself on the right wing. Good for offense, but he gets stuck there lots.
Based on how he has played in the last little while though, I would agree with you that he is probably NHL ready to start next year, or at least play a portion of next year.

Its still a work in progress, dont get me wrong when I said he turned the page, I am not saying its fixed and lights out now. Just its at a level that the coverage guys are saying it can translate to the pros and not look out of place as a rookie.

From his age, its still NHL or back to juniors. I dont see any good having him back in the WHL again next season. Fully ready or not, the best path for his in development is in the NHL in a transitioning role. At least the Avs are deep so they are not asking him to be a Top 4 dman right now. They can take their time with him at the NHL level

I could see Byram getting playoff action, but only if there's an injury. Barberio would also have to commit a felony for Bednar to bench him; he's earned his spot through veteranyness. Would be very exciting though

Barberio has been a healthy scratch for 2 months when they were healthy haha, but they will be a fully healthy roster by the time the playoffs start up again so its really who gets scratched in this scenario. Cole or Zads. Since zads got healthied, thats the easy guy to guess

Byram is not ready. Just saw him a few months ago

and what has he done since then...are you just trying to mess with me?

Hes great, but he is not ready for NHL playoff hockey on a third pair. It will be a liability to have him on the ice this year mark my words

Avs fandom and prospect junkies really believe he is ready to make the jump. Hes in a weird spot without being eligible for the AHL. I dont think another season of Junior helps him at all, but a limited shelter role in the NHL is probably not the best either but in comparison probably better than another season in the Dub?

Liability is a tad harsh, he wont be a turn over machine, hes too smart of a player and with his skating ability can be able to recover and skate out of hemmed in his own zone issues.

It wasn't that long ago that people assumed Makar was just a once dimensional offensive dman, came into the NHL and showed he has more than just a PP QB.

3/23 update- CHL has just canceled the playoffs for all leagues and Memorial Cup.... Byram is clear to play for Colorado if we do playoffs.

might be tough now with the changing landscape for a rookie to jump in cold after 2 months. The extended time off is going to be wild, so many teams will be out of sync

With everyone healthy that's as deep as any lineup in the playoffs. Even if Byram is good enough to not be a liability on the 3rd pairing it might be more sensible to let his ELC slide so that we can have him on an ELC right up until Mack's contract.