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

[Fjordy]

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.

I like the idea of Nelson, but I think the value of Byram and Samuelsson is different. Counter question, could someone like Pulock be available or zero chance?

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

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

He’s got a horribad contract not in this universe would I ever make that deal - try a B prospect and a 1 from a playoff team given age and contract

 

[sabremike]

Knowing our slow-witted GM, once he trades Byram for futures, he won't be able to find another deal and will end up drafting some of those futures after we miss the playoffs again. It would be better to find a hockey trade.

It's incredibly hard to think of any GM in the league who has done a worse job of asset management than Adams. It's why the suggestion earlier that he'd get picks to use as currency was hilarious: He won't trade them, he'll just use them (which is why we have a glut of kids in Rochester who won't win anything because the teams with vets will literally beat the crap out of them).

 

[Three On Zero]

Byram only makes sense for Vancouver if Hronek goes the other way. Hughes, Byram
And Hronek is not a good recipe for a successful blue line

 

[NyQuil]

If he were available I could see maybe Ottawa. Something around Norris or Batherson.

We have the same problem as Buffalo, with Sanderson and Chabot ahead of him on the LD side.

 

[DJN21]

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

ahhaahahahahaahahah NO.

 

[I am Bettman]

How about Cozens for Carlo with some cap going to Sabres to make it work?

 

[StreetHawk]

Van/Buf don't seem like a fit in terms of what Buf would need back.

Odd deal to send Mittlestadt out for another LHD when they had Power/Dahlin. Akin to Ott adding Chyrhrun when they had Chabot and Sanderson as LHD.

 

[trellaine201]

How’s the noggin these days?

 

[Barsky]

It's incredibly hard to think of any GM in the league who has done a worse job of asset management than Adams. It's why the suggestion earlier that he'd get picks to use as currency was hilarious: He won't trade them, he'll just use them (which is why we have a glut of kids in Rochester who won't win anything because the teams with vets will literally beat the crap out of them).

Have you heard the legend of a man they call Rob Blake?

 

[Fjordy]

How about Cozens for Carlo with some cap going to Sabres to make it work?

If Boston adds Frederic (and then he turns into Bennett like in Florida), then sure. If we trade Cozens, we won't have 2C. We'll close one hole, and a new hole will appear.

Have you heard the legend of a man they call Rob Blake?

Well, at least his team is in the playoffs, and yes, we know about the fancy LA farm system back in the day, so we're calling on Adams to quickly trade some prospects because they don't even have enough spots in the AHL anymore. Plus, it could work (Savoie for McLeod), at least for now.

 

[Barsky]

If Boston adds Frederick (and then he turns into Bennett like in Florida), then sure. If we trade Cozens, we won't have 2C. We'll close one hole, and a new hole will appear.


Well, at least his team is in the playoffs, and yes, we know about the fancy LA farm system back in the day, so we're calling on Adams to quickly trade some prospects because they don't even have enough spots in the AHL anymore. Plus, it could work (Savoie for McLeod), at least for now.

Fair, but only cause he inherited a multi cup winner. There will never come a day that I'm not amazed he was dumb enough to trade for, with good assets and then sign PLD to a monster deal. A more fireable offense I cannot think of, nm how Brock Faber has turned out vs the soft as kleenex Fiala

 

[bobbyb2009]

If Boston adds Frederick (and then he turns into Bennett like in Florida), then sure. If we trade Cozens, we won't have 2C. We'll close one hole, and a new hole will appear.

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.

 

[HaNotsri]

Knowing our slow-witted GM, once he trades Byram for futures, he won't be able to find another deal and will end up drafting some of those futures after we miss the playoffs again. It would be better to find a hockey trade.

We can trade the 3rd we get for the priviledge of calling Jimmy Vesey, trade the 2nd for a 4th liner and the 1st we can use to pick an undersized low-iq forward. It's the holy trinity of how Buffalo deals with picks.

 

[Fjordy]

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.

Right now he's definitely not, but it's a tough situation. His line is basically just kids, where one of them looks really bad, and the other one just came back from an injury, overall Cozens' line is not producing anything. We're trying to figure out for ourselves if Cozens will be a good top 6 C or if he's better off playing on the wing.

 

[Bankerguy]

I like Bryam and Cozens but as a Van fan, Pettersson is just too good to let go of after 50-60 bad games. Before this weird slump, he was a top 5 top 6 C in the league.
he's still young too.
If he goes to a system that he meshes wish (esp out of the spotlight of a canadian market), i feel like he's going to pop off with 110 point seasons year after year after year.
If Cozens becomes a steady 70 pt player and Byram is a 40pt. no.3 guy in his prime... like... i still dont think that's enough. I'd need another sweetener.
but i'm no GM, both sides probably dont do this right now

 

[Unbiased Fan]

He’s got a horribad contract not in this universe would I ever make that deal - try a B prospect and a 1 from a playoff team given age and contract

He’s cheaper and just as good all around as Seider.

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

He’s got a horribad contract not in this universe would I ever make that deal - try a B prospect and a 1 from a playoff team given age and contract

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

 

[Fjordy]

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

Apparently he's afraid of age, that after 30 he'll fall off a cliff. But I think Weegar has a normal contract and he seems injury-resistant. Although it's probably not available right now.

 

[Regal]

Van/Buf don't seem like a fit in terms of what Buf would need back.

Odd deal to send Mittlestadt out for another LHD when they had Power/Dahlin. Akin to Ott adding Chyrhrun when they had Chabot and Sanderson as LHD.

Dahlin plays a lot on the right side at least. But then they also have Samuelsson who they paid to be a top 4 Dman.

 

[crowi]

It's odd to me BUF would want to deal Byram. I feel they got a pretty good deal for Mittelstadt all things considered. Byram has a very high ceiling and is still very young.

 

[Barsky]

Apparently he's afraid of age, that after 30 he'll fall off a cliff. But I think Weegar has a normal contract and he seems injury-resistant. Although it's probably not available right now.

Don't kid yourself, that is a BAD contract and as an Ottawa native myself, I love Weeg. He's not a soft d-man so it's not smart to sign them long term past the age of 35, ever. Ya, it could work out, but it does not remotely help his value, it's his biggest drawback. It's not Chris Tanev bad or anything, but it's not at all good

 

[Fjordy]

Don't kid yourself, that is a BAD contract and as an Ottawa native myself, I love Weeg. He's not a soft d-man so it's not smart to sign them long term past the age of 35, ever. Ya, it could work out, but it does not remotely help his value, it's his biggest drawback. It's not Chris Tanev bad or anything, but it's not at all good

Well he's not going to be 35 anytime soon, plus like I said he's injury-free, even if his last few years of his contract aren't great. Buffalo needs to win here and now, and our defense needs a player like him.

 

[SEALBound]

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.

 

[HaNotsri]

I like Bryam and Cozens but as a Van fan, Pettersson is just too good to let go of after 50-60 bad games. Before this weird slump, he was a top 5 top 6 C in the league.
he's still young too.
If he goes to a system that he meshes wish (esp out of the spotlight of a canadian market), i feel like he's going to pop off with 110 point seasons year after year after year.
If Cozens becomes a steady 70 pt player and Byram is a 40pt. no.3 guy in his prime... like... i still dont think that's enough. I'd need another sweetener.
but i'm no GM, both sides probably dont do this right now

The sweetener would have to be picks or one of our gazillion winger prospects.
Players with EP's pedigree rarely get traded. Cozens+Byram+Top 3 protected 1st 2025+3rd 2026 (if EP's injury issues means he's done early this season we definately have a good chance to get a top 3 pick...)