Jarmo Kekalainen will be busy this offseason as he tries to work on extensions for key players like Alex Tuch, who is an unrestricted free agent, and Zach Benson, who is a restricted free agent. However, he also mentioned a player who still has one more year left that he categorized as "very important" in getting a new contract done this season.
That player is Bowen Byram, who just went through a contract negotiation last summer with the Buffalo Sabres when he was a restricted free agent. At the time, it wasn't clear whether a new deal would get done or whether the young defenseman would get dealt.
The two sides ultimately agreed to a two-year deal, but after an excellent season, the Sabres, under their new general manager looks motivated to make sure Byram stays in Buffalo long-term.
Jarmo Kekalainen wants to make sure his Top 4 defensemen are in place for the long-term
During the press conference on Wednesday, Kekalainen was asked how important it is to keep his Top 4 together, knowing that Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power are locked in long-term with Byram being the only one of this group who doesn't have a long-term contract.
"Very important, and I said that to Bo Byram today. I'd like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said.
Bo Byram just finished his second full season with the Sabres after Buffalo traded for him during the 2023-24 season. The young defenseman once again was very productive with a career high 42 points after tying his career-best in goals (11) and assists (31).
Byram was also excellent in the first series against the Bruins, with three goals in the first four games, and finished with seven points in 13 playoff games.
At only 24 years old, it makes perfect sense for the Buffalo Sabres to want to extend Bo Byram now. If they can, it means their Top 4 would be set through the 2029-30 season, which is the final season of Mattias Samuelsson's contract.
While Bo Byram's extension might not be the first the Sabres agree to this offseason, especially considering Alex Tuch can be a free agent in less than six weeks, it sounds like this will be a priority and something that the general manager will push to have taken care of before the Sabres are back on the ice in the fall.
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