Bowen Byram played a massive role for the Buffalo Sabres this season, helping lead them to a playoff spot after a lengthy drought. He was third on the team in average time on ice, behind only Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson with 22:20 per game, and chipped in 11 goals and 31 assists. Lindy Ruff didn't take a step back from his playing time in the playoffs, as he actually averaged three seconds more and became the second option behind Dahlin.
All of that to say that Sabres fans might be appalled to see that the reason Byram didn't see a future in Buffalo is that he wanted a bigger role. According to Darren Dreger, he is happy to join the Chicago Blackhawks after they traded the Sabres their fourth-overall pick for Byram's services, and is even looking to get an extension done in the near future.
Sources say Byram is happy to join the Blackhawks. He wants a bigger role. Safe to say work will be done on an extension in the near future. https://t.co/ojGMur9YnP
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 24, 2026
It isn't to go as far as to say that it is a slap in the face to the Sabres' organization, but it's hard to determine what Byram actually expected out of his time in Buffalo. He was never going to get more ice-time than Rasmus Dahlin, who was a Norris Trophy finalist this season, but becoming a prominent top-four defenseman on a rising team like the Sabres seemed like a perfect scenario for the offensive defenseman.
Bowen Byram's added responsibility with Blackhawks
When Byram talks about a more significant role, he likely means on the power play, as he sees a clear fit with all the young talent in Chicago to be one of the league's most productive power play defensemen. He was stuck behind Dahlin in Buffalo, but he will now join a unit in Chicago that utilized the five-forward powerplay rollout for large portions of this past season due to a lack of a true powerplay quarterback.
While Byram was left to take the last 30 seconds of power plays with Buffalo's second unit if he stayed, he'll now hop over the boards every night with Connor Bedard on his left flank, ready to rip home one-timers. It is unfortunate for Sabres fans that Byram felt the Blackhawks were a better opportunity, but the pain of the breakup will ease once Buffalo drafts another top prospect at fourth overall.
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