Bowen Byram‘s time with the Buffalo Sabres appears to have come to an end.
The talented 24-year-old, who won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, finds himself on a crowded blueline in Buffalo. The Sabres defense boasts team captain and 2018 first overall draft pick Rasmus Dahlin. In addition, the roster also includes 22-year-old defenseman Owen Power. Power was the first selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. With both Dahlin and Power signed to long-term contracts, the top spots on the blue line are currently filled.
Byram will be a restricted free agent on July 1st. Although he has said only positive things about playing in Buffalo, he is likely looking to be a top-pairing defenseman. That simply will not happen with the Sabres. The former Avalanche first-rounder was a solid contributor for the Sabres in 2024-25. He was a +11 on a team that struggled in goals against. In addition, he appeared in all 82 games last season, providing seven goals and 31 assists. In Buffalo, his value as a player is recognized both as a member of the team and as a possible trade piece.
“I think Bo had an excellent season,” said Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. “He’s a Stanley Cup champion at a very young age and extremely talented.
Byram was acquired by Buffalo from Colorado in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt on March 6th, 2024. Mittlestadt was due a new contract, and the Sabres saw an opportunity to add a young and talented player to their lineup.
“When we traded for him, we didn’t exactly know how he’d fit,” Adams said. “We were willing to make that bet and say Let’s bring in a really, really good hockey player and see how it shakes out.”
Kevin Adams has long preached the importance of committing to players who want to remain in Buffalo and being part of the solution. Young winger JJ Peterka has expressed a desire to play somewhere else, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Like Byram, Peterka is a pending restricted free agent this summer.
With Peterka’s future in doubt, the Sabres could use Byrum in a deal that would bring help to the forward group. In Byram’s case, the situation is about his role on a well-stocked Sabres defense.
“I think he had a nice season,” continued Adams. “He did a lot of good things for us, and we’re going to start to talk about that now as we get into the offseason. What makes the most sense for our team? Just the way our roster sits, long-term versus short-term contracts. and there’s obviously salaries you have to look at and projections. He’s a really good, and we’ll be open to anything.”
As the offseason moves on, Byram will be valuable as the Sabres look ahead to 2025-26.
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