The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers are looking to upgrade their rosters after reaching the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, but recent speculation linking the clubs to a potential swap with each other may not be grounded in reality.
Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported there isn't any traction on a blockbuster trade featuring Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and Flyers forward Owen Tippett.
"DFO did ask a team source about trading Tippett in a deal for the Sabres' Bowen Byram, with the response being that even though the trade would be fair and the right type of deal, it wouldn't be something the Flyers are interested in at the time," Di Marco wrote Tuesday. "That at least offers a perspective on the type of return that would make sense."
Byram is coming off a 2025-26 season where he posted a career-high 42 points (11 goals and 31 assists) while playing all 82 regular-season games for Buffalo. He added four goals and three helpers across 13 playoff appearances.
The 25-year-old Canadian is one year away from potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Sabres have expressed interest in a long-term contract extension, but the blueliner has previously hinted at a desire to become a first-pair defender and No. 1 power-play quarterback.
Those roles aren't available in Buffalo due to the presence of Norris Trophy finalist Rasmus Dahlin, but Byram could possibly compete with Travis Sanheim for them in Philly.
Meanwhile, Tippett perfectly matches the type of player the Sabres have built their roster around: hardworking, willing to throw his body around and capable of playing in any situation. It's the same skill set as the likes of Zach Benson and Josh Doan.
The 27-year-old winger racked up 51 points (28 goals and 23 assists) in 81 games this season. He also dished out 166 hits and blocked 50 shots. He's topped 25 goals in three of the last four campaigns for the Flyers, who acquired him in a 2022 trade with the Florida Panthers.
Yet, while there's seemingly the baseline makings of a trade given each team's strengths and needs, it doesn't sound like a road Philadelphia is willing to traverse. At least not at the moment.
Don't be shocked if the Buffalo Sabres trade Bowen Byram before the 2026-27 NHL season
Much of the Sabres' success in their drought-breaking campaign came thanks to the strong top-four defensive foundation laid by Byram, Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power.
So, it's easy to understand why the expectation is Buffalo will run it back with that group when the new season gets underway. Why mess with a good thing?
What happens if Byram doesn't show interest in an extension, though? The Sabres just went through a 12-month saga with winger Alex Tuch, who's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and there's still no sign the sides are close to an agreement.
Buffalo's front office, led by general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, opted to keep Tuch as an "own rental." It helped the club reach the NHL postseason for the first time since 2011, but they're now a few weeks from the downside: Watching a high-end player leave without getting any compensation.
Quite simply, that's not a winning asset-management strategy over the long haul. It was understandable the Blue and Gold didn't want to mess with their chemistry as they skyrocketed up the Eastern Conference standings, but it can't become the norm to lose key UFAs for nothing.
If Byram is willing to sign a market-value extension, great. The Sabres can retain their top-four defense group and prized prospect Radim Mrtka, a towering 6-foot-6 defenseman, likely becomes a trade chip as the team attempts to add another high-impact forward.
But if Byram wants to test the free-agent market and/or land with an organization where he'll have a better chance to emerge as a full-time first-pair player (and PP QB), Kekalainen should spend the summer trying to find a trade partner.
Yes, there would be risk with breaking up a quartet that worked so well, but Buffalo's defensive floor would still be high with Dahlin, Samuelsson and Power. Mrtka could also be an option to make an early jump to the NHL, though a year with the AHL's Rochester Americans is probably preferred.
All told, the drought is over. Eliminating that misery was crucial to change the mindset of a longtime losing organization. Now the focus has to shift toward smart, long-term roster-building decisions that allow the Sabres to remain a perennial playoff team and ultimately become a Stanley Cup contender.
Trading Byram may be part of that equation if he doesn't see himself in Buffalo for the years ahead.
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