Speculation: Is Bowen Byram available? or will be? Lots of speculation about him from the "insiders"

[Fjordy]

Is Byram really going to be a centerpiece for a trade for a top-line center, though?

I couldn't see Vancouver, for example, entertaining trading Pettersson with Byram being a core piece.

I could see something like Byram for Norris being potentially appealing.

Well, it wouldn't be just Byram, but also Cozens, plus probably something else.

As I understand it, Ottawa doesn't need Byram, they have Chabot and Sanderson.

 

[Zman5778]

Serious question from someone who hasn't paid enough attention to him lately, is Cozens a successful #2 now, or is that you project him to be. I will do some looking, but curious to know how you feel his development is going.

There are many on the Buffalo board....and now a few in the Buffalo media.....who question if Cozens is actually a center, or if he is better off at wing.

But is he a successful #2 right now? Goodness, no. He is the driver of the "Buffalo struggle bus", while Jack Quinn is holding down the gas pedal on said bus. His defense is solid enough, and he's generating a lot of shots......but not a lot of those shots are high quality/good chance of going in. So there is (or should be) a fair bit of hope that he's adjusting to what Ruff wants, and then will start playing to his #2C capability.

I think the biggest issue in his development is that he seems to think that he should be this high-volume shooter who should be/needs to be scoring 30-40 goals a year when he needs to focus on being a well-rounded PITA to play against. I've long held that he should/could be the Kings' version of Jeff Carter -- super solid 2 way player who was tough to play against who would be 25-35-60 most years while being ~50% at the dot, but could also play wing.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Buffalo gave up a good player to acquire Byram with the intention he would fill a hole as a top-4 D on a long-term basis.

It is highly unlikely they have decided that was a mistake after 30 games. Particularly, when he is playing 21 minutes a night, has a positive +/-, a positive Corsi and 8 points in 13 games, all of them at even strength (among the league’s top 10 for D).

It is possible that Byram has told the Sabres he has no interest in signing there long term and he is being shopped because of that.

It is more possible that Canuck fans have latched on to a BC boy on a team they think they can poach from because it’s a downtrodden franchise and the echo chamber has brought that to life.

 

[Satanphonehome]

It’s also weird how tightly some people are clinging to the narrative that Byram is a poor fit on a roster with Dahlin and Power.

He’s spent most of the year beside one of those two and all 3 are plus players with positive Corsis, and in the top 30 of NHL defencemen scoring.

They are producing more than a lot of team’s second lines.

Buffalo’s problems early have been special teams and the total failure of its 2nd line, not its defence corps.

 

[Djp]

So Adams trades for Byram and not full year later Byram available? Mans not very good at GMing.

He wanted to move Mitts before the offseasonvsnd wanted a rodter player. The think was therr might have bern a western team interested but it fell throughout the draft.

Byram, Kulich, Helenius, 1st 2025 and 1st 2026 for Mackenzie Weeager

GTFOOH

What would Sabres fans say about a deal around Brock Nelson and Byram/Samuelson? Ik there’s a big age gap but a big reason the team isn’t working is because there’s no consistent veteran to give you 35 & 35 every year.

f*** no

Did I read that right?? Weegar is on an amazing contract.

It fine now bot thr last 3-4 yrs us a heavy anchor

Buffalo gave up a good player to acquire Byram with the intention he would fill a hole as a top-4 D on a long-term basis.

It is highly unlikely they have decided that was a mistake after 30 games. Particularly, when he is playing 21 minutes a night, has a positive +/-, a positive Corsi and 8 points in 13 games, all of them at even strength (among the league’s top 10 for D).

It is possible that Byram has told the Sabres he has no interest in signing there long term and he is being shopped because of that.

It is more possible that Canuck fans have latched on to a BC boy on a team they think they can poach from a downtrodden franchise and the echo chamber has brought that to life.

If he dorsnt want to sign long term, thsts fine. Buffalo still has 2full yrs after this one IIRC

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Byram for Bennett?

 

[Dr Amazing]

Traded back to Colorado for the legendary Sam Girard 1 for 1 ill send the paper work.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Mittelstadt for Byram++

 

[zizbuka]

Byram for Drysdale?

 

[Theodore450]

Bowen for Dach

 

[Schemp]

Byram+ for RAndersson as the basis of a trade.

 

[PullHard]

I’m curious if something around Byram and Jiricek could work, or maybe Byram and Andersson?

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I could see the Sabres trading Byram, but it would have to be for a 2C or RD on a good contract and under 28. I doubt they are shopping him. He has been OK for the Sabres so far in a top 4 role, and has shown some signs of becoming an important piece for the future.

As much as I would love a big, physical shut down RD, I am not in the camp that thinks having 3 good LD who can move the puck and put up points is a bad thing. Especially when Dahlin is just as comfortable playing on the right.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Buffalo gave up a good player to acquire Byram with the intention he would fill a hole as a top-4 D on a long-term basis.

It is highly unlikely they have decided that was a mistake after 30 games. Particularly, when he is playing 21 minutes a night, has a positive +/-, a positive Corsi and 8 points in 13 games, all of them at even strength (among the league’s top 10 for D).

It is possible that Byram has told the Sabres he has no interest in signing there long term and he is being shopped because of that.

It is more possible that Canuck fans have latched on to a BC boy on a team they think they can poach from because it’s a downtrodden franchise and the echo chamber has brought that to life.

I think this is the right take. We just traded Mittelstadt to get this guy. The only reason you’d turn around and immediately trade him again is if he were falling flat on his face/totally not fitting in with the team, which clearly isn’t the case. I don’t see any reason to think the Sabres are looking to move him right now.

E: Also, anyone who thinks 3 lefties is too many to have in your top 4 needs to watch a Sabres game where Dahlin is paired with Jokiharju and compare it to one where he’s with Byram/Power/any other lefty. He’s clearly much better as an RD with a partner who can spontaneously/situationally switch sides within the game the way Dahlin does.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Cozens, Samuelson, Rosen, 1st 2025

Kadri, Weegar.

 

[Muffin]

So Adams trades for Byram and not full year later Byram available? Mans not very good at GMing.

Seems like they didn’t want to extend Mittelstadt so they just took best player available to flip later?

 

[dgibb10]

Not really - a top 5 pick top 4 D will
Bring back more value than an expiring rfa mitts count on it - see Larson for hall at the time

These D have super high value league wide

At this point Byram isn't really highly regarded anymore. He's sucked since the avs won the cup.

Good start to this year but if he wants a sizable contract I'd want nothing to do with him

 

[Djp]

Seems like they didn’t want to extend Mittelstadt so they just took best player available to flip later?

The issue was extending Mitts as a
A middle 6 center given the young players they had in their system and the bigger need to get D


In theory anyone is available but buffalo right now isnt doing as futures trade and isnt acquiring someone on the downside of their career.

 

[Avs2022]

I'll take him back on the Avs as a 3rd line forward.

 

[McHelpus]

Nurse is always available and he provides stanley cup experience!

 

[Panthaz89]

It’s also weird how tightly some people are clinging to the narrative that Byram is a poor fit on a roster with Dahlin and Power.

He’s spent most of the year beside one of those two and all 3 are plus players with positive Corsis, and in the top 30 of NHL defencemen scoring.

They are producing more than a lot of team’s second lines.

Buffalo’s problems early have been special teams and the total failure of its 2nd line, not its defence corps.

Dahlin is perfectly fine playing on the right(honestly looks better there) so I don't really see that issue either its not like Byram is playing on the bottom pair. I guess they view it as an issue to have 3 good PP QBs even though our PP sucks because of scheme regardless of who we have. All you do is run 2 D-man on one power play unit and people act like its hard. Well it is because whoever has been in charge of our PP has them have such a bad entry and setup plan that its laughable.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Should have just extended Mittelstadt then

Would be the #2C and the best all-around center on the roster

 

[thewookie1]

Cozens, Samuelson, Rosen, 1st 2025

Kadri, Weegar.

No

Also no interest in trading a metric ton for EP40; his play in Vancouver has become far too concerning to trust he'll bounce back in anything aside a 100% offensive system.

 

[Albatros]

It’s also weird how tightly some people are clinging to the narrative that Byram is a poor fit on a roster with Dahlin and Power.

He’s spent most of the year beside one of those two and all 3 are plus players with positive Corsis, and in the top 30 of NHL defencemen scoring.

They are producing more than a lot of team’s second lines.

Buffalo’s problems early have been special teams and the total failure of its 2nd line, not its defence corps.

All are LHD. So, trade Dahlin or Power instead?

It's not going to help the special teams either if you permanently lack RHD options.

 

[Fjordy]

All are LHD. So, trade Dahlin or Power instead?

It's not going to help the special teams either if you permanently lack RHD options.

All our top 4 D are left-handed now, but they play well. Dahlin is more comfortable on the right-side, Byram plays with him in the first pair and so far it works.