Canadiens' Byron: We're Stanley Cup competitors

Paul Byron is motivated to win.

Finding a home with the Montreal Canadiens last season after being placed on waivers by the Calgary Flames, the diminutive winger had a breakout season, reaching a career-high 11 goals, which earned him a three-year extension.

Byron has since settled in Montreal, after previous stops in Calgary and Buffalo, and stints between the NHL and AHL over the past few seasons.

"It was a little weird watching free agency on July 1 and not worrying about it or panicking," Byron told the team's official site. "My whole life, my whole story has been about perseverance and fighting through tough situations."

Entering the season, Bryon looks to continue last year's early success. He highlighted Montreal's core as one that stacks up against any competitor.

"With our core group, we can beat any team in the league," Byron said. "We can compete for the Stanley Cup.

"I think last year it was just a start for me. I really feel like I fit into the style of play here. I think I‘m just going to continue getting better."

Byron observed the highs and lows of last season, from the Habs' 9-0 start, to the early knee injury that caused goalie Carey Price to miss most of the year.

Still, Byron is confident the Canadiens can get back to the winning ways they showed early last season.

"We had a taste of (winning) at the start of the year. I think everyone’s excited to get back to that," Byron said. "The fans have the expectation for us to win, and that's the expectation that I have personally, too.

"No one really picked Pittsburgh to win it last year. You watch what they did in the playoffs, and that could be us this time around. That’s my motivating factor, for sure."