Sabres Rumors: Insider Says Buffalo Definitely Shopping Bowen Byram

Buffalo Sabres definitely shopping pending RFA Bowen Byram this offseason.

All through the past season, we heard the names Dylan Cozens, and to a slightly lesser degree, Bowen Byram as being on the Buffalo Sabres trade list. A Cozens deal, of course, came to fruition, as they sent him to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris. Byram still remains a Sabre... But for how long?

According to a new report from insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Byram could very well be on the move this offseason as he's a restricted free agent and is in line for a mid-to-long-term deal worth at least $7 million annually (per AFP Analytics projections). Pagnotta says GM Kevyn Smith will be throwing his name out there.

Bowen Byram's name is expected to pop up again in trade discussions... Likely around the draft... It could prolong into July, but expect to hear his name out there again in the trade market as the Sabres look to improve.

Will the Sabres trade Bowen Byram this summer?

But like with the Cozens trade, Adams won't be looking to ship out Byram for 'futures' or draft picks. As Pagnotta correctly notes, "The goal next season is to make the playoffs, so any move is going to have that in mind." i.e., it's going to be a hockey trade, just like the deal that brought Byram in from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt.

Byram had a fine season in Buffalo, with career highs in assists (31), points (38), and plus/minus rating (+11), while also logging a personal best 22:42 time on ice. He was not to blame for the Sabres missing the playoffs for a record 14th consecutive season, but his pending new salary might be a problem.

Long-term deals are already on the books for blueliners Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson totaling over $23 million per season, not to mention the combined $15 million AAV being pulled in by Tage Thompson and Norris for the next several seasons.

The Sabres will also be trying to re-sign other key RFAs this summer, in JJ Peterka (AFP projected $7.8M AAV on long-term deal) and Ryan McLeod ($4.8M AAV on shorter-term).