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WHL Vancouver Giants' Bowen Byram clearly top defensive prospect in NHL draft class

Buffalo, N.Y. — Bowen Byram is considered the best defenseman prospect in this NHL Entry Draft.

But wherever Byram lands among the top 5 teams — or top 6 if he somehow falls to the Red Wings — there’s a sense Byram will likely need one more season of grooming in junior hockey.

Byram doesn’t feel the same way, though, speaking Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine.

Byram feels he can step into the NHL next training camp, after a rigorous summer of training (and especially weightlifting), and help an NHL team in October.