Speculation: What does Buffalo do with Bowen Byram?

[WarriorofTime]

Nobody in the League currently spends more cap on Defensemen than the Buffalo Sabres, with $35.6 million of cap allocated to their defensemen. Lefthanded shots Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million) and Owen Power ($8.35 million) command a large chunk of that with their longterm deals. Buffalo also has 5 years remaining on their deal with another lefthanded shot Mattias Samuelsson ($4.285 million).

Bowen Byram will turn 24 in the offseason, and is another left-handed shot defenseman who often also plays on his off-hand, that will be an Arbitration-Eligible RFA that will require a $4.62 million Qualifying Offer. The earliest Byram can become an Unrestricted Free Agent is summer of 2028 (3 years). They also have righthanded shots, Henri Jokiharju, who is an Arb-Eligible RFA and Connor Clifton, with one year remaining after his one, that average out bottom pair minutes.

Will the Sabres look to extend Byram on a longer deal, look to get him on a short deal or possibly make a move?

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[Coffee]

I could see him being traded to Calgary or Detroit

 

[Three On Zero]

Teams will likely pay a premium for him in the offseason if he finishes the rest of the year healthy

 

[Viking10]

What sort of contract do people think Byram will be looking for if you wanted to sign him for say 6 years?

 

[Fjordy]

What sort of contract do people think Byram will be looking for if you wanted to sign him for say 6 years?

It's hard to say, but I'm more interested in what role Byram will be looking for. According to rumors, he wants to be 1D and PP1, this is not happening in Buffalo, we already need to decide whether to extend Byram or trade him at TDL.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

I wonder if they'd try to trade Samuelsson instead.

 

[Chainshot]

Nobody in the League currently spends more cap on Defensemen than the Buffalo Sabres, with $35.6 million of cap allocated to their defensemen. Lefthanded shots Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million) and Owen Power ($8.35 million) command a large chunk of that with their longterm deals. Buffalo also has 5 years remaining on their deal with another lefthanded shot Mattias Samuelsson ($4.285 million).

Bowen Byram will turn 24 in the offseason, and is another left-handed shot defenseman who often also plays on his off-hand, that will be an Arbitration-Eligible RFA that will require a $4.62 million Qualifying Offer. The earliest Byram can become an Unrestricted Free Agent is summer of 2028 (3 years). They also have righthanded shots, Henri Jokiharju, who is an Arb-Eligible RFA and Connor Clifton, with one year remaining after his one, that average out bottom pair minutes.

Will the Sabres look to extend Byram on a longer deal, look to get him on a short deal or possibly make a move?

Jokiharju is a pending UFA and not playing regularly and it would be no shock if he isn't back.

I expect a 1 year deal if Adams is still GM this summer. It also wouldn't surprise if they finally see what sort of coward Power is and move on from him.

Regarding Byram himself, I would expect a couple of the NHL "Insiders" who spend time carrying water for player agents like Dreger and Lebrun to continue to put it out there about how much other teams want him and such as a way to grease the skids for some sort of trade.

 

[Fatass]

Keep Byram. Trade Power?

 

[Team Cozens]

Keep Byram. Trade Power?

Power and Cozens for EP.

 

[Forlan]

It may seem like nonsense. But I would try to trade Power for C/RD in order to keep Bayram and give him a 7.0 - 7,5 million contract for 7 years

 

[Archie Lee]

It may seem like nonsense. But I would try to trade Power for C/RD in order to keep Bayram and give him a 7.0 - 7,5 million contract for 7 years

I don’t think this is nuts at all. I think it is one of the paths to the Sabres getting better.

 

[Coffee]

It may seem like nonsense. But I would try to trade Power for C/RD in order to keep Bayram and give him a 7.0 - 7,5 million contract for 7 years

You don’t sound crazy at all

 

[truthbluth]

I still think Power is going to be great. But Byram is great right now. When Dahlin went down, Byram carried water for 23 minutes a game and looked good. Results weren't there, but that's just how important Dahlin is. I'd resign Byram 8x8 if he'd stay and trade Power based on the player he's going to be.

 

[qc14]

Power and Cozens for EP.

Power or Byram + Cozens for EP is the most no-brainer for both teams blockbuster ever

 

[Viking10]

Byram, Cozens, Kulich, Joki. Ret. 50% & pick for EP, Desharnais & Suter?

I still think Power is going to be great. But Byram is great right now. When Dahlin went down, Byram carried water for 23 minutes a game and looked good. Results weren't there, but that's just how important Dahlin is. I'd resign Byram 8x8 if he'd stay and trade Power based on the player he's going to be.

What is the knock on him… Stat line shows him as a big D but not many block shots/hits/pim/shots.

Power has some offense but stuck behind Dahlin for PP time & Byram since he arrived in Buffalo.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

It's hard to say, but I'm more interested in what role Byram will be looking for. According to rumors, he wants to be 1D and PP1, this is not happening in Buffalo, we already need to decide whether to extend Byram or trade him at TDL.

I mean he's good, but realistically this isn't happening on most teams.

 

[Fjordy]

I mean he's good, but realistically this isn't happening on most teams.

That's right, there are very few teams that can give him that role. Although he's already a top-pair player and if he agrees to a reasonable extension I'd do it. About 1D and PP1, it could also be rumors or an agent's play, who knows.

 

[truthbluth]

Byram, Cozens, Kulich, Joki. Ret. 50% & pick for EP, Desharnais & Suter?


What is the knock on him… Stat line shows him as a big D but not many block shots/hits/pim/shots.

Power has some offense but stuck behind Dahlin for PP time & Byram since he arrived in Buffalo.

Proposal: No.
The knock on Power is he doesn't know what to do with himself on D when the O is attacking. Great at defending rushes, but in the normal flow of chaotic possessions, he literally doesn't know what to do. He's the opposite of Ristolainen. Once he has the puck he clears with possession at elite levels, but he isn't physical and doesn't even engage most of the time.

 

[Petes2424]

The Sabres will do everything in their power to have him signed to a long term contract prior to the deadline, or trade him. Even if they likely have to overpay him to do so.

Once the deadline passes, he starts holding more and more leverage. Some may say the decision is already made, and that’s why his name is out there like it is. We’ve already heard the media leak about him seeing himself as a #1 and wants that opportunity. That’s an agent leak.

Fans all want to think every player is loyal and wants to help their team out, but Byrum didn’t choose to go to Buffalo and be behind Power and Dahlin. He’s gonna do what he feels is the best thing for his career. Players and agents rarely pass up an opportunity to have the leverage he will have, if he waits to file for arbitration this summer.

So obviously the Sabres do NOT want him filing for arbitration. Not with all the huge deals unproven, young dmen have been handed, and him already on a bridge deal. Not only will he likely hit the jackpot, his following qualifying offer will be ridiculous, and he’ll either pick his trade destination like Debrincat did, or walk straight into UFA.

Whatever the case, once this upcoming deadline passes, he takes control of so much of his future in the league.

It’s just today’s NHL with teams handing these massive deals to unproven Dmen. Including to Power in Buffalo. It’s why teams are now so scared of arbitration with any players, but especially good players. The Rangers have the same problem, albeit to a lessor extent, with K’Andre Miller.

 

[Djp]

Buffalo likely signs Byram this summer ( if not traded)
At some point they will trade one of Power or Byram

Dahlin can play RD

In prospects they have D

RD --22 Komarov,23 Strbak, McCarthy. 24 Kleber
LD -- 19 ryan johnson, 21- novikov

They drafted a few other prospects at D

My feeling is they try to sign Strbak after this yrs ncaa, have him play next year in AHL then take a shot st Sabres between him and Komarov

In 26/27 I see sabres D as

YYY-dahlin
YYY- xxx
Ryan Johnson-Clifton (resigned)/signed vet
Vet LD

YYY=Power, byram,or samuelsson

The XXX is what they want to get back in a trade either moving of the D ffg or or its 2 deals of Fs for that D sndvthst D for F

 

[dirtydanglez]

keep him and trade power

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Keep Byram. Trade Power?

That is what I do, if Bryam will sign four years or longer. I would then FINALLY get a real RD for top four.

 

[Djp]

Byram, Cozens, Kulich, Joki. Ret. 50% & pick for EP, Desharnais & Suter?

Who is retained at 50%?

Not trading Kulich in that deal

 

[Fjordy]

Who is retained at 50%?

Jokiharju

 

[StickShift]

I suspect that the Canucks choose not to trade EP or Miller—and instead choose to break the bank and trade for Byram with picks and prospects.