Byram To St. Louis Blues Cooled Off, But May Not Be Done

The St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres both had interesting and active offseasons, each making a trade and adding pieces for a different look next season. The Blues added Pius Suter, Logan Mailloux, and Nick Bjugstad while the Sabres brought in Josh Doan, Michael Kesselring, Justin Danforth, and Alex Lyon.

There were two players that were heavily rumored to be moved this offseason from the Sabres, JJ Peterka and Bowen Byram. Peterka was sent to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for two of the Sabres' summer additions, but Byram actually re-signing for two years. Per Jeremy Rutherford, "The team's (Blues) trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres regarding Byram cooled before he re-signed, but all it takes is one phone call. Likewise, clubs still like (Jordan) Kyrou."

Byram signed a two-year deal at $6.25 million AAV, which is fair considering he scored seven goals and 38 points, played 22:42 per game, played in all situations, and is doing all of this at 24 years old. If the goaltending can be figured out internally with three solid options this season, the Sabres' two spots where they need to upgrade is at forward, particularly the wing to give them better forward depth, or the right side of the defense. Right now, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Byram are all on the left side and that isn't a long-term solution. One has to go and it'll be Byram now or within two years as he's a UFA after his contract is up.

Byram's value likely won't be much higher than it is right now because he has two years left on his deal and whichever team acquires him doesn't have any certainties about his future. He could just want to head to free agency and see his options.

The Blues now have a solid mix of old and young on the back-end and were fortunate to have gotten Nick Leddy picked up off of waivers by the San Jose Sharks so it frees up some cap space. Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk, and Colton Parayko are all 32 years of age or older, but Philip Broberg, Mailloux, and Matthew Kessel/Tyler Tucker are 25 years old or younger. The Blues do need an upgrade on the left side as I don't think Tucker and Kessel should be battling it out for the sixth defensive spot, but rather the seventh.

Fowler is going into the final year of his deal and Faulk has two more years. Byram replacing Fowler and taking the ice time over, even if Fowler re-signs short-term, makes a lot of sense for the future of the Blues who are young, but also trying to compete.

The Blues are a destination that continues to make sense with what they're building and maybe the teams can figure it out at some point this season or even before.