* Size: five foot nine, 165 pounds

* Age: 23

* Home town: Ottawa

* Last season: AHL Abbotsford — 21 points in 39 games; NHL Calgary — five points in 22 games

The Skinny

Part of the return on the Robyn Regehr trade to the Buffalo Sabres two summers ago, the snappy forward is trying to land a full-time gig in Calgary. He got some looks last season and drew rave reviews from GM Jay Feaster in the process. (“My goal, starting right now, is to create a roster spot for Paul Byron and get him back here just as quickly as we can,” Feaster said in November after acquiring Blake Comeau, a development that had forced Byron back Abbotsford). Byron, however, says he isn’t obsessed by the Flames’ decision-making process. “I’m just trying to do my thing, show what kind of hockey I bring,” he said. “When you start thinking too much about that, that’s when your game seems to slip.”

Upside

Skating, skating, skating. As a bonus, Byron pointed out that coach Bob Hartley’s new system is very similar to the one he played in QMJHL Gatineau under skipper Benoit Groulx. “I know what to expect,” said Byron. “I know it’s a new coach, but he plays a similar style to what I had in junior. I really like the kind of hockey that he wants to play here and the pace he wants to play it at. I really enjoy it.”

Additionally, Byron can handle any of the three forward positions. (“And I’d like to think I’m pretty good on faceoffs, too.”) On top of which, with a half season already under his belt — 13 points in 26 dates — he’s in game shape. “That’s always a challenge in September — getting your legs into it,” Byron said. “But I feel pretty good in practice. High intensity. Lots of speed, lots of high pace. I feel that suits my kind of hockey.”

Downside

The Flames are in the market for up-front sandpaper and size. Byron isn’t that.

Outlook

Byron’s age and versatility and speed give him value. Now, not surprisingly, all the kid wants is a long look. This is, after all, his fifth NHL camp. (“It’s not nerve-racking anymore.”) But this audition is shorter than any other, which limits the opportunity to impress. “I think it’s hard to stand out, definitely, in practice,” said Byron. “A lot of drills and stuff. There’s not a lot of room to create. But I think with the lockout going on, there was a lot of attention to us in Abbotsford, so we got a lot of attention (from the Flames’ brass then). They’ve seen us play a lot. All we can do here in practice is execute the system the best we can and show that we can play this type of hockey.”

Quote

“Fast. I think everything I do is fast. Fast pace. I push the play. I think I create a lot of room for linemates with my speed. And it gives me a lot of room because defenders back off a bit.”

— Paul Byron