Bowen Byram Knows What He Wants; Finding It May Be the Challenge

Bowen Byram has made his intentions fairly clear. Between his past comments that he wants more opportunity, his switching agents and signing a deal that would allow him to test free agency at a prime age, and the growing speculation that the Buffalo Sabres are being put in a position where they might need to trade him, it sounds like Byram has a plan.

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He explained, “First and foremost, I don’t want to lose anymore. I want to be on a good team every year. I want to compete for a Stanley Cup every year. I want to be playing important games every year, and then there’s more personal stuff like where you fit in, what your role is.”

There’s nothing unreasonable about any of that. The issue is whether or not the Sabres can offer it. They’re more competitive now than they’ve been in years. As for opportunity? That’s not exactly jumping out at him.

If the reporting is accurate and Byram wants to be the team’s number one defenceman, running the top power play, logging the big minutes, and being trusted in every situation. That rules out several clubs. In Buffalo, he’s up against it, given that the Sabres have Rasmus Dahlin, and he is the man. Around the league, 13 teams don’t currently have that role locked up by an established presence. That’s where the conversation starts.

For most of them, it also quickly ends.

Byram wants to win. He wants important games in April and May, not just a bigger role on a rebuilding team that’s still three years away. Apply that filter and the list of 13 collapses to roughly three or four — Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Carolina. Four teams in the entire NHL where Byram could plausibly walk in as the top defenceman and immediately compete for a Stanley Cup.

What Can Teams Offer in Return for Byram?

It gets more complicated from there. Of those four teams, only a few have pieces that might actually interest Buffalo in a trade — names like Anton Lundell, Brett Howden, Sam Bennett, or Anthony Cirelli. But here’s the catch: these teams are also considering other potential deals and they aren’t looking to move their top contributors. In Florida, the Panthers have been linked to Connor Hellebuyck. They don’t have room to add both players, and they certainly don’t have the trade pieces to trade for both.

Carolina would love to bring in someone like Byram. Are they willing to remove key pieces from a roster that just won the Stanley Cup? Probably not, and a package around Jesperi Kotkaniemi isn’t getting it done.

Vegas is in on everyone. Would they do what they’ve always done, and jettison solid assets to get the new shiny toy? Will they give him $10 or $11 million over 8 years?

There’s also a September 15 deadline that matters — after that date, neither Buffalo nor any trade partner can offer Byram an eighth year of term on a new contract. If the Sabres wait too long and other teams have already committed their cap space elsewhere, that list of four teams potentially shrinks. A trade deadline deal might happen, but it’s probably not permanent. Byram will have one more season on his current deal and the temptation to test the market will grow.

Byram has a total belief in his own ability. He recently switched agents to Darren Ferris, who is well known for advising his clients to get to unrestricted free agency. The defenseman will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 when the NHL’s salary cap will increase once again. He knew what he was doing. His plan is to find the perfect situation and strike gold.

The question is where he’ll find it. You have to remember, too, just because Byram believes he’s a No. 1 defenseman, it doesn’t necessarily mean every team believes it, too. How many are willing to bank big bucks and big term on it?

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