The Buffalo Sabres have secured a significant piece of their defensive future, agreeing to terms with blueliner Bowen Byram on a two-year contract extension. The new deal, announced recently, carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.25 million, totaling $12.5 million over its duration.
This agreement successfully bypasses the arbitration process, a mutually beneficial outcome that provides clarity and stability for both the 24-year-old defenseman and the Sabres organization. Avoiding arbitration hearings is generally preferred, sidestepping the potentially uncomfortable process of arguing a player`s precise market value in a formal setting.
Byram arrived in Buffalo midway through the previous season, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade on March 6, 2024. His integration into the Sabres` defensive unit was a key development, bringing a blend of offensive upside and skating ability to the roster.
In the 2024-25 season, split between his time in Colorado and Buffalo, Byram participated in a full 82-game schedule, recording 38 points on seven goals and 31 assists. Across his 246-game NHL career to date, the left-shot defenseman has accumulated 110 points (33 goals, 77 assists).
Originally drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in 2019, Byram gained valuable experience and achieved the ultimate team success early in his career, being part of Colorado`s Stanley Cup championship team in 2022. His previous two-year contract, valued at $7.7 million in total, expired this summer, making him a restricted free agent.
Committing to Byram for two more years signals the Sabres` confidence in his continued development and his role as a core player on their blue line. This extension provides valuable cap certainty for the club and ensures that a player acquired with significant assets will remain part of their long-term plans as they aim to build a competitive team.