The Buffalo Sabres have solidified a key component of their defensive group, reaching an agreement with restricted free agent Bowen Byram on a two-year contract extension.
The deal, announced Monday night, carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.25 million, amounting to a total value of $12.5 million over its duration. The agreement ensures the young defenseman remains with the club and, importantly, avoids the need for a potentially contentious arbitration hearing.
Byram, a 24-year-old left-shot blueliner, joined the Sabres organization relatively recently, arriving via a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024. Since his arrival, he has integrated into the team`s defensive structure.
During the past season, Byram recorded 38 points, tallying seven goals and 31 assists over 82 games. His career statistics, accumulated over 246 NHL contests with both Colorado and Buffalo, stand at 110 points, comprising 33 goals and 77 assists.
Drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Byram previously experienced significant team success, being a member of Colorado`s Stanley Cup championship roster in 2022. This experience brings a valuable, albeit trophy-laden, perspective to the Sabres` locker room.
With his previous two-year contract, valued at $7.7 million, expiring this summer, Byram was designated as a restricted free agent. This new two-year pact provides the Sabres with cost certainty and keeps a promising young defenseman in the fold, allowing him to continue developing within the team`s system while deferring discussions on a potentially longer, more lucrative contract until closer to his unrestricted free agency eligibility.
