The Buffalo Sabres have successfully avoided a potential arbitration hearing by agreeing to terms with restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram on a two-year contract. The deal, finalized late Monday night, is reportedly worth a total of $12.5 million.
This agreement brings immediate clarity for both the player and the club, ensuring that Byram will remain a core part of the Sabres` defense for the next two seasons. The contract carries an annual average value (AAV) of $6.25 million, a significant figure that reflects Byram`s growing importance to the team.
Avoiding salary arbitration is typically the preferred outcome for NHL teams and players alike. It eliminates the need for a formal hearing where the player`s value is debated in a setting that can sometimes feel, well, slightly uncomfortable for everyone involved. For the Sabres, locking up Byram also preempts any possibility of another team submitting an offer sheet, securing a valuable asset they acquired relatively recently.
Byram, 24, is coming off a strong performance in his first full season with Buffalo. Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt, Byram appeared in all 82 games, establishing career highs with 31 assists and 38 points. He also contributed physically, registering 116 blocked shots. His smooth transition and offensive contributions from the blueline made him a valuable addition to the roster.
The two-year term on this contract suggests it functions somewhat as a “bridge” deal. It rewards Byram for his solid play and provides financial security while allowing him to further demonstrate his long-term potential. For the Sabres, it represents a commitment at a manageable cap hit, providing flexibility down the road while betting on Byram`s continued upward trajectory. It’s the familiar dance of NHL cap management: secure the player, pay a fair rate for current performance, and hope the player`s future value exceeds the cap hit – a win-win scenario if executed correctly.
Before joining the Sabres, Byram was a member of the Colorado Avalanche team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022, contributing 9 points during their championship run. Since entering the league in 2021, he has accumulated 33 goals and 89 assists over 273 regular season and playoff contests.
With this contract now finalized, the Buffalo Sabres secure a key component of their defense for the immediate future. The $6.25 million cap hit fits within their financial landscape and allows them to move forward with clarity regarding a significant piece of their roster puzzle.
Tristan Blackwood