Aarif Deen
It wouldn’t be an NHL offseason without Bowen Byram’s name reappearing in the NHL rumor mill.
The 25-year-old Buffalo Sabres defenseman again finds himself on the trade market, according to TSN’s NHL insider Darren Dreger.
Dreger reported on Thursday that the Sabres are exploring offers for Byram, who is a year away from unrestricted free agency. Byram was a restricted free agent last summer after the two-year deal he signed with Colorado in 2023 came to an end. He was in the rumor mill then, but eventually signed a two-year, $6.25 million AAV contract to remain in Buffalo.
The Avs traded him to the Sabres for Casey Mittelstadt in March 2024.
His current AAV came in at a lower rate than expected, but the tradeoff was walking him straight to UFA status at the young age of 26 years old. If Byram doesn’t sign with Buffalo, or with any other team he potentially gets traded to, he’d be the best young UFA the league has seen in years. And there won’t be a shortage of teams bidding for the 2022 Stanley Cup champion’s services.
But a trade this summer could expedite the process for any team that acquires him. Byram is eligible for an extension on July 1.
Byram recorded career-highs with 11 goals and 42 points in 2025-26. He also matched his career high in assists (31). He also had three goals and seven points in 13 playoff games — appearing in the postseason for the first time since he played for the Avalanche.