Friedman: Sabres gauging the market on Byram

[SnS]

Apparently in his recent press conference Briere said they wouldn’t be active in free agency. I could see a trade for a young center or defenseman with the glut of wingers they have, but hopefully they just ride out next season. Tocchet was a disappointing hire but he’s probably not even as good of a coach as Tortorella, so the Flyers should be picking high next draft

Nobody is going to want the wingers who are available and the ones other teams want, I can’t see being traded.

 

[tnnr]

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

Yup he wants to be #1 in all situations and will likely only re-sign long term with a team that can provide him that so let's see which teams can.

CHI - Yes (but may want that role to be given to Levshunov at some point)
SJ- Yes (but developing Dickinson for that role)
ANA - Yes (For now, Mintyukov seems ready)
PHI - Yes
MTL - No
CBJ - No
STL - No (Broberg/Fowler on LD/PP)
NSH - No
SEA - Yes
DET - No
PIT - Yes
CGY - No (Parekh will be the PP guy)
TB- No
Utah - Maybe
Boston - No
FLA - No
Col - No
NYI - No
NYR - No
WSH - No
Van - No
LA - No
Ott - No
DAL - No
MIN- No
VGK - No
NJD - No
EDM - No
TML - Maybe (if they don't want Reilly anymore)
CAR - No
WPG - No


If you were to ask me the best fit is probably a team like Chicago that's looking for young guys to take big roles and Byram fits that.

 

[SnS]

Michkov was playing with some talent last year the thing is that Philly isn't even really that close overall and I'm not sure if RT can change that.

Tell that to the brain trust in charge of the team, they think they are.

 

[Soundgarden]

I don't even get what Nashville's direction is at this point.

Rebuilding, we need players under 25. Josi is 35 and on his 12? concussion.

 

[Some Other Flame]

Flames will be interested but don't see Andersson as the piece going back. Doubt he has any interest in signing longterm in Buffalo given everything. Alternatively, the Flames could move Andersson for stuff and then flip other assets for Byram.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Nobody is going to want the wingers who are available and the ones other teams want, I can’t see being traded.

They are going to have to thin out the wingers at some point. Brink or Foerster in a package would get the most value I think

 

[Commander Clueless]

Leafs could really use him.

Now I know Buffalo would be disinclined to trade him to a divisional rival... Particularly one with very few tradeable assets.

That said, hear me out. I offer 5 "pretty please"s, and your choice of a "c'monnn" or an "I'll be your best frieeend!".

I would like to see another franchise top that offer!

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Wherever he goes, for the love of god, get him on PP1. Kid was 15th in the league in EVP among defensemen and managed to be a strong + player on the Sabres, he could easily hit 60 points on a team where he isn’t blocked.

Which teams need him though? Seems like most teams have that guy already.

 

[SFKingshomer]

He would be a good fit in LA.

 

[tsujimoto74]

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

? We traded Cozens for a guy who plays center better than he does. Hell, Norris on the bench was more valuable to Buffalo than Cozens on the ice. But if you’re telling me you want to give me a d-man better than Byram in a 1-for-1 trade for him, I won’t say no.

 

[Stephen]

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 agree. The Leafs went super hard into the direction of defensive solidity now they need to be selective in reintroducing skill, skating and upside.

 

[DFC]

I can think of two Atlantic teams who will really want him, but that's a difficult deal to make with Buffalo, who needs those teams to age out.

 

[tsujimoto74]

They are going to have to thin out the wingers at some point. Brink or Foerster in a package would get the most value I think

So will Buffalo. We don’t need more wingers.

 

[LuGBuG]

Yup he wants to be #1 in all situations and will likely only re-sign long term with a team that can provide him that so let's see which teams can.

ANA - No (Jackson Lacombe is ready)

fixed it for you.

 

[SnS]

They are going to have to thin out the wingers at some point. Brink or Foerster in a package would get the most value I think

Buffalo has zero need for wingers and I doubt PHI brass wants to move TF.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Buffalo has zero need for wingers and I doubt PHI brass wants to move TF.

I strongly believe Buffalo is looking to make changes on the wings. I'd be surprised if either Quinn or Peterka are there next season, it seems like they've been trying to trade them. They have far too much youth in the top 6/top 9 wings.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I strongly believe Buffalo is looking to make changes on the wings. I'd be surprised if either Quinn or Peterka are there next season, it seems like they've been trying to trade them. They have far too much youth in the top 6/top 9 wings.

Perfect. They can get a geezer winner in Bryan Rust.

 

[FlyguyOX]

I'm not trading Foerster. I'll trade Brink though.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

? We traded Cozens for a guy who plays center better than he does. Hell, Norris on the bench was more valuable to Buffalo than Cozens on the ice. But if you’re telling me you want to give me a d-man better than Byram in a 1-for-1 trade for him, I won’t say no.

Sure bud. I'll sign up Bobby Orr and trade him for Byram. Orr's knee at 77 is about as durable as Norris' shoulder.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

I think y’all need to reframe this discussion a bit - Byram wants to be a number one or number 2D on a team that gets power play time… The issue is he’s neither of those on buffalo. He is number three clearly so there are lots of teams that could also use a number two defense men to play on their power play.

Also, it doesn’t matter that he got traded for a guy that tanked his value after. A lot of people were saying that mittelstadt was the missing piece in Colorado when they traded for him obviously, he was not… But I think many of you will be shocked at what the return will be for a Young defenseman that at least a few teams will believe can be a top pair or a second pair defenseman that was a number 4 overall pick not that long ago and has been to the Stanley Cup finals and won.

When Buffalo traded for him, the narrative was he is a good player, but couldn’t stay healthy… And I think that has not been an issue at all in Buffalo healthwise.

 

[DesertPenguin]

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.

Buffalo seems like a team in need of some cup winging glue guys. Assuming we move Karlsson for a 1st +, I'd package that late first with Rust and not lose any sleep over it.

 

[KingsHockey24]

He would be a good fit in LA.

Byram / Gavrikov
Anderson / Doughty
Edmundson / Clarke

Would be sick. Not sure we could afford it though.

 

[DesertPenguin]

They're trying to retool like the Capitals and Byram is a young top-4 LD that fills a massive long-term need for the organization. That is the exact kind of move the Penguins should and seemingly will be looking to make.

Byram is 23 right now, even if it takes another 5 years for the Penguins to be good again he'll still be in his prime.

Couple that with Dubas's stated plan to address the LD this offseason and reluctance to add anyone UFA age or older (aka over 26) so they'll be in their prime a long time, Byram is the tailor made candidate.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

If Carolina get bumped easily against Florida, I could see them being interested. Burns and Orlov both UFAs, the D is not young and Byram would just need to be better than Gostisbhere for PP1 time.

They don't have an obvious player to swap with Buffalo but do have assets so Buffalo could just use those to acquire a player they want.

Edit, as soon as I clicked send I remembered Nikishin exists.

 

[hamzarocks]

Cowan + Rielly + Woll for Byram + UPL