Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams made his intentions clear to other NHL teams on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in Buffalo (in comments shared by Matthew Bove of WKBW), Adams stated he would match any offer sheet presented to defenseman Bowen Byram.
Byram, a restricted free agent, has been frequently mentioned in trade speculation during the off-season.
Asked if he would match an offer sheet, Adams firmly stated, “Absolutely. The strategic moves we`ve made regarding our salary cap position have been with this in mind. Leaving just enough cap space for a one-year projection could put the organization in a difficult position if another team makes a significant offer. Therefore, all our recent decisions have been aimed at ensuring we can match. We will match any offer and secure a player under contract whom we believe is essential for us to win.”
However, Adams also mentioned that he is open to considering trade proposals.
He elaborated, “I`ve kept the same stance: if a deal emerges that makes sense for us and would improve our roster, we are open to it. If not, we are not looking to move him or trade him for future assets. My priority is helping our team win hockey games, and he contributes to that.”
Last month, the Sabres traded forward JJ Peterka, who was also a restricted free agent, to the Utah Mammoth. Peterka subsequently signed a five-year contract with Utah.
The Sabres are keen to end the NHL`s longest active playoff drought, having failed to qualify for the post-season for the past 14 consecutive years.
The 24-year-old Byram recorded seven goals and 31 assists over 82 games last season.
Buffalo acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche in March 2024 in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt.
