Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams announced a two-year extension for defenseman Bowen Byram late last night. The deal, at two years and $6.25M per year, runs through the 2026-27 season.
Earlier this month, the Sabres contemplated trades and offer sheets for Byram, choosing instead to settle on salary arbitration. This deal, while short term, allows the Sabres to determine the future of Byram and the Sabres.
Selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft, Bowen Byram is a young, mobile defenseman with a penchant for points. He joined the Sabres at the end of the 2024 NHL trade deadline in a deal that sent Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado. Byram put up career highs this last season with seven goals, 31 assists and 38 points in all 82 games.
Byram’s Time in Buffalo
In 100 games with the Sabres, Byram has scored near half a point-per-game pace with 47 points in 100 games. Byram is second in average ice time in Buffalo behind Rasmus Dahlin. He led the team in blocked shots, tied with fellow defenseman Connor Clifton. Byram, per NHL Edge, remained in the top 94th percentile of skaters by distance. His mobility, coupled with his defensive capabilities, made him one of the top two defensemen on the Sabers last season.
Until last night, Byram and Buffalo couldn’t find middle ground on an extension. It was initially reported by Elliotte Friedman on “32 Thoughts” that several teams approached the Sabres about Byram. âHe is a confident lad, Byram, and I say that in a positive way,â Friedman said. âI think he would like a bigger role⦠Itâs tough in Buffalo with whoâs ahead of him and whoâs around him.â
Byram, a left-shot defenseman, sits third on the depth chart behind former first overall picks Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. This extension should allow him more time to carve out a bigger role for himself on the ice. If the two parties can’t meet in the middle, however, Byram may elect to pursue free agency in two years.
Extending Byram Offers Sabres Temporary Flexibility
Byram, 24, is approaching the prime of his NHL career. At the end of this extension, he will become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to approach the offseason with any team of his choice. This extension gives the Sabres short-term flexibility. They can use the next two seasons to determine whether or not Byram is a long-term fit with the organization.
Additionally, extending Byram allows the Sabres to see whether or not his 38 point campaign is a sign of things to come or his career peak. At the end of the 2026-27 season, the Sabres will have around $21.825M to spend, barring extensions from Jack Quinn and newcomer Michael Kesselring. Should the Sabres see a fit with the team, they could easily match whatever salary Byram may require.
With that said, though, the team will need to act quickly. Earlier this season, the Sabres traded young forward JJ Peterka. They’ve had to contend with losing star players in the past like former first overall pick Jack Eichel. It’s up to Kevyn Adams to find a fit for Byram in the future, whether it’s with the Sabres or another team.
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