Is O'Byrne overrated?

Qui Gon Dave · 07-01-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JrHockeyFan

I saw him obliterate a guy playing for the Dogs in the Cup. The forward kind of disappeared below the boards. Have not seen that kind of hitting in the bigs yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JrHockeyFan

I did not say that. What I said was I have not seen him hit a guy the same way I saw him hit in the calder Cup playoffs. It was a really huge hit. Better than your example. So far I have not seen him duplicate THAT kind of hit.

It was like "now you see the forward, now you don't". Splat hip check into the boards

Chances are it was the defenceman Alex Edler of the Manitoba Moose you saw him squash. That was one of the very best checks I can remember seeing at any level. He timed that as perfectly as a hip check along the boards can be and got every ounce of strength he had into it. Although I have to say, Edler didn't help his cause with the way he tried going round O'B, but credit Ryan for making the hit as well as he did.

While the youtube vids posted are good hits, like you say, he hasn't hit like that yet in the NHL. Give him time to fully adjust and the opportunity against a smaller guy and he'll make it happen though. It's just a matter of time.

Btw, if anyone has some video footage of that hit on Edler, please please please post it as I'd love to see that again

Kimota · 07-01-2008, 04:51 AM

I like the way he moves the puck for his size. I just hope he will deliver those mean Komi-like hits next season.

HabsDood · 07-01-2008, 04:53 AM

O'Byrne's a kid.. He needs 2 more seasons, or 20 pounds..

GNick42 · 07-01-2008, 07:12 AM

O'Bryne is 23 with 40 games under his belt...he's already a #4-5 NHL defenseman...when he is 28 you'll see a #2-3 defenseman

RoyBoyCoy · 07-01-2008, 08:34 AM

this can be explained through NHL08. If you have a Defensive Defensemen (DD) and an Offensive Defensemen (OD) on the same pairing, then they should work well together. And although that is video game logic it kind of rings true. Look at Markov and Komisarek. some people who are uneducated about hockey might ask "Why arent Hamrlik and Markov on your top line? they are better" well that's because Hamrlik and Markov are OD whereas Komisarek and O'Byrne are DD so you put one of each on a pairing.

This is all a long-winded way of saying "He works well with Hamrlik"