Friedman: Sabres gauging the market on Byram

[Empoleon8771]

 

[HockeyVirus]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

Middlestat was more highly regarded at the time of the trade, it seemed like he had put it together and had become a legitimate middle 6 NHL center.

I think Byram should return a very useful piece if Buffalo wants a hockey trade. I won't speculate beyond that but given they won't just sell him for futures it means the return will be limited by who's attainable.

 

[LG18]

Kent, work your magic.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

I think they can definitely get back a 1st+ for him but I don't think the Sabres will be able to swap him for another area of need straight up. I don't remember the last time a player's RFA rights were traded for another NHL player, it's most commonly futures going back.

I think you have to go all the way back to Trouba to NYR for a trade of RFA rights bringing back another NHL player, and that was Trouba for Pionk and a 1st. Fiala was the last big name RFA traded and he was moved for Faber (as a prospect) and a 1st.

I'd personally move the NYR 1st and 2 2nds for him, but I know Buffalo doesn't want futures so I'm curious if another team can offer more NHL ready help.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Flames should definitely be in on this. Could see a deal around Byram + for Andersson making sense for both sides

 

[Nucker42]

Every time I watch him play i feel like he’s one of the better players on the ice. Wanted the Canucks to grab him but too late now.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

If they're gonna give him up as easily as they did Cozens, I wouldn't mind Detroit being in.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Buffalo could really use a veteran middle-6 center who is defensively responsible. Cirelli is someone I'd love to pry out of TB, but there isn't really a need for a LD even though McDonagh and Hedman are aging. May have to use Peterka instead.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I think they can definitely get back a 1st+ for him but I don't think the Sabres will be able to swap him for another area of need straight up. I don't remember the last time a player's RFA rights were traded for another NHL player, it's most commonly futures going back.

I think you have to go all the way back to Trouba to NYR for a trade of RFA rights bringing back another NHL player, and that was Trouba for Pionk and a 1st. Fiala was the last big name RFA traded and he was moved for Faber (as a prospect) and a 1st.

I'd personally move the NYR 1st and 2 2nds for him, but I know Buffalo doesn't want futures so I'm curious if another team can offer more NHL ready help.

I wonder if there is a 3 way trade with the Leafs, Sabres, and someone else. If they could swap Morgan Rielly for Byram and include a prospect like Cowan and then whoever gets Rielly sends the pick(s) to the Sabres.

I doubt the Sabres care much for draft picks though, so IDK. Maybe it would be like a Rielly for a forward the Leafs don't really want and then Byram to the Leafs kind of thing

 

[Dubi Doo]

If they're gonna give him up as easily as they did Cozens, I wouldn't mind Detroit being in.

Meh. Cozens didn't have much trade value with his contract and hasn't done much to prove he's a top-6C in Ottawa, either. Byram should cost a fair bit more.

 

[OrangePMD]

And by bigger role he probably means #1 power play minutes, so he can get paid like a #1.

 

[Fatass]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

Byram is exactly what the Lrafs need. Young offensively gifted D. Cup winner too. Cost would be higher than Leafs might want to pay though. Maybe convince Reilly to go and add a top prospect? Then the Sabres could move on from Power too and get top six forward help for him.

 

[Patdud]

Middlestadt for Byram 1:1

 

[RangersFan1994]

Rangers please improve the Defense. Oh wait too many 5th 6th 7th dman on the roster

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Buffalo could really use a veteran middle-6 center who is defensively responsible. Cirelli is someone I'd love to pry out of TB, but there isn't really a need for a LD even though McDonagh and Hedman are aging. May have to use Peterka instead.

Isn't that the role of McLeod? He seemed to do pretty good in it last season

 

[HockeyVirus]

Byram is exactly what the Lrafs need. Young offensively gifted D. Cup winner too. Cost would be higher than Leafs might want to pay though. Maybe convince Reilly to go and add a top prospect? Then the Sabres could move on from Power too and get top six forward help for him.

Yup. Rielly has been one of my favorite Leafs for a long time and he had an incredible first 8 games of the playoffs, but he has basically become an offensive D who doesn't really produce offense but has all the drawbacks of offensive dmen.

Toronto's defense needs to get younger. Byram being 24 and Carlo 28 is a good start along with Danford coming up eventually who will likely replace Benoit in a few years.

I don't know if they can make it work either though. Leafs are short on assets

 

[Nanuuk]

Flames should definitely be in on this. Could see a deal around Byram + for Andersson making sense for both sides

Agree. I know some Buffalo fans think that they're set at D (more or less), but Andy would provide them with sorely needed leadership.

Whether there would be adds by either side is open to debate. The point is that I am sure something would be accomplished.

Buffalo has picks coming out of the ying-yang and a farm team brimming with prospects. I am not so sure they would be interested in more picks, but having more defensive depth, i.e. Miromanov or Bean, might enter in to the discussion.

Perhaps a larger trade could be had as well given that they have the 9th pick overall.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

Leafs have a full D core (including their 7D) signed through 2027, and the only guys I could see them looking to move out would be Rielly or possibly and much less likely OEL. Buffalo wouldn't be interested in Rielly, so I don't think this makes sense. If you're doing "Rielly to Team C for forward" and "Leafs forward (plus?) for Byram", then sure, I guess.

 

[57special]

Leafs should be interested. But I think Sabres fans will be disappointed with his eventual return given he returned Middlestat and then hasn't exactly done anything in Buffalo

Well, it's not like Mittelstadt set the world on fire after he left Buffalo. I would say that Sabres fans would be fine with the value received deal. At worst it's a wash.

Byram definitely has top 4 talent, but needs to go to a place where they have a good defensive structure to make up for his defensive shortcomings. He's not bad defensively, but not good. I suspect that he would get better on a team with a good defensive mindset. He's at his best with the puck on his stick.

The worry with him, and what will bring to down his value, is his concussion history. The more concussion free years he can log, the more value he will have.

 

[Doublechin]

Flyers are a fit here, he'd be their number one D and get PP1 minutes, tracks better with their rebuild

I think Byram+9th pick for Konecny and 22nd pick can make sense here

Konecny would be a huge get for Buffalo, a team that's clearly had enough of being mediocre and willing to put everything on the line

 

[Fatass]

Sabres need right shot D who can anchor a top six pairing defensively. Byram is from Van. Hronek is clearly an anchor defensively for a top pairing.

 

[Volica]

Flames need a long term LD option. Makes a lot of sense for us, in addition to him being a Western Canadian kid and Dub man.
All of our D prospects that have some near-NHL upside are all righties, and Weegar's a natural righty too.

If Andersson doesn't have Buffalo on the no-fly list, then that would be an easy trade for both teams.

Buffalo adds a legit top 4 guy who can minute munch, and who they could try to re-sign if things go well.
Calgary adds another high upside young D-man who fills a need.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Byram is exactly what the Lrafs need. Young offensively gifted D. Cup winner too. Cost would be higher than Leafs might want to pay though. Maybe convince Reilly to go and add a top prospect? Then the Sabres could move on from Power too and get top six forward help for him.

Your plan is to convince Reilly to go to... Buffalo?

 

[Fatass]

Yup. Rielly has been one of my favorite Leafs for a long time and he had an incredible first 8 games of the playoffs, but he has basically become an offensive D who doesn't really produce offense but has all the drawbacks of offensive dmen.

Toronto's defense needs to get younger. Byram being 24 and Carlo 28 is a good start along with Danford coming up eventually who will likely replace Benoit in a few years.

I don't know if they can make it work either though. Leafs are short on assets

Isn’t there a young guy in the London Knights who’s really good? Maybe him?