The Sabres have settled with restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram before their arbitration hearing, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK reports. It’s a two-year contract worth $6.25MM per season, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet adds. The team has since confirmed the signing.
The contract, worth $12.5MM in total, could still be part of a sign-and-trade involving Byram, whose name more seriously popped up in trade speculation early in the offseason ahead of what he hoped would be a big payday for him. Instead, the young rearguard settles for another “show-me” bridge deal, one that notably walks him to his first UFA-eligible year in 2027, giving him better earning potential on a long-term deal than he has now, assuming he continues an upward trajectory.
Byram, selected No. 4 overall in the 2019 draft by the Avalanche, struggled with concussions early and often in his development but has enjoyed healthier campaigns in recent years. After getting his name on the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, they signed him to a two-year, $7.7MM bridge deal the following summer. Before he completed the first season of the contract, Colorado, looking to upgrade its center group, dealt Byram to Buffalo in a surprise one-for-one trade for Casey Mittelstadt.
While few things have gone right for the Sabres in the last decade-plus, that trade was one of them. Colorado no longer has Mittelstadt or the veteran they ended up trading him for, Charlie Coyle, on their roster. Byram, meanwhile, could still be poised to play another couple of seasons in Buffalo – multiple reports have indicated he’s open to staying long-term as long as the money is of interest.
Byram’s best NHL season came last year in top-pairing deployment with Rasmus Dahlin. While a bit of an awkward fit at first glance with two lefties, Byram managed a career-high with 38 points and a +11 rating while averaging nearly 23 minutes per game and, perhaps more importantly, played in all 82 contests. He’s now missed just nine games over the last two years after missing more than half of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons combined.
Byram notably did not file for arbitration, leaving himself susceptible to an offer sheet. Still, the Sabres negated that threat the following day when they opted for team-elected arbitration. That move limited their ability to walk away if they didn’t like the award and allowed Byram to choose between a one-year or a two-year term. Even without a hearing, Byram likely gets his wish here with a chance to test unrestricted free agency as early in his career as possible.
Still just 24, Byram’s 116 blocks co-led the team last year, although his possession impacts, with a noticeable discrepancy between his and Dahlin’s even-strength Corsi shares, are cause for concern. Both Buffalo and Byram, for his market value’s sake, will count on his defensive play to improve as the Sabres aim to make the postseason for the first time since 2011, assuming he remains in Western New York come opening night.
Image courtesy of Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.
Still gonna trade him!
I think That until Trade deadline or next Sumner that move indicate thay Adam dont Wanna sell low or lower the chance of going to playoff with ans underwhelming Return.
We Can put those rumors to bed for Now at least.
Byram’s dad Shawn scored over 100 goals in a season while playing in the British Hockey League back in the day.
Bo scores 20 this year and ends up at around 65-70 points.
The second year of his deal, he’ll score more goals and put up more points.
Players and execs in the league know he is the real deal and that he won’t sign for a penny less than $9 million when his current deal expires.
I wish you ran a sportsbook. All day on the under for 20 goals.
Hah, I remember Shawn Byram well; he played a couple seasons for us here in Springfield. Problem was that he was part and parcel of Islanders draft picks in the 1980s — they were obsessed with getting a Cam Neely clone, so they did nothing for the better part of a decade than draft big galoots out of the WHL. Shawn was very good at the physical side of things, less so on the offensive side.
Byram did score 10 goals in 42 games 3 seasons ago with the Avs, while not playing on the top pair or getting any PP time.
Playing top pair minutes with Dahlin for a full season (they dominated 5 v 5 play last year when on the ice together, scoring twice as many goals as the opposition 31-15) and getting more PP time than he did in CO, seems likely you would lose your bet.
I think buffalo challenges for the WC spot this year. Byram will be good. He should stay there and play. They can trade someone else. Get that top pairing locked.
Goaltending? Coaching? Who replaced JJ’s production?
What makes you think they challenge for a WS spot when they still have holes to fill?
That’s what the trade deadline is for. If the group plays well enough to be in the conversation they make moves to fill some of their holes. There’s maybe two or three teams right now that are complete
We’re not talking about other teams.
Most teams added not subtracted. Most teams have a longterm coach solution, not a problem. You believe in their goaltending? Did management hire someone that will profoundly change the culture?
It was a valid question based on a seemingly overoptimistic opinion.
They don’t need to replace JJ’s production 100%. Goal scoring was far from a problem for Buffalo. And while goaltending has been an issue, bringing in Kesselring and Doan makes them harder to play against, which should help on that front.
JJ was unwilling to play Ruff’s 2 way system and got into his doghouse. 53 goals over 2 seasons is not hard to replace with a roster of still developing younger players (Kulich Benson Quinn Kozak etc).
UPL probably faced a league that made some adjustments to him but he failed to adjust to them. He is still a young player who needs to make adjustments himself. With UPL Lyons Levi Buffalo has options in net. Adams has also been drafting goalies the last few drafts.
The Sabres added a 6’5″ RHD (Kess) to play with Power. By keeping Byram he can play with Dahlin. Timmins will play with Samuelson. Johnson Jones Bryson are your depth Dmen. Danford is a good forechecker who wants to hit players. Doan is also a gritty bottom 6 forward.
Kess has a hard shot as good as Tage.
Dahlin Power Byram can produce 45+ goals combined.
Plus Buffalo has Ostlund and Helenius in Rochester.
JJ was a Joke Joke.
Played ole defense, sat on the bench when his line was not on the ice and just stared away from where the play was happening. Ray Ferraro mentioned this on his podcast a few weeks ago. Said he watched a game next to the Sabres bench and couldn’t believe how disengaged Peterka was during the game when he sat on the bench.
His refusal to be part of goal celebrations all last year was cringy and painful to watch. Came across like he was an elite boy-bander expecting everyone to worship his Munich glow.
Huge addition by subtraction. Sabres in the Playoffs, Bruins win the lottery.
Overrated
Why do you keep overrating him? Oh, and where is this rating list?