Bowen Byram is set to become the highest-paid defenseman in NHL history based on average annual value thanks to a six-year, $75 million contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. The $12.5 million AAV takes over the top spot from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million).
TSN's Darren Dreger first reported terms of the record-setting agreement.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said during his season-ending press conference that a Byram extension was a high priority this offseason. It didn't take long for his tune to change, ultimately trading the 25-year-old defender to the Hawks for a package that included two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 4 and No. 45) and fellow blueliner Louis Crevier.
Now we know why Kekalainen reversed course so quickly. Byram previously hinted at his desire to become a full-time first-pair defenseman and No. 1 power-play quarterback, and clearly he wanted a salary to match those pivotal roles.
Here's the problem: The former Colorado Avalanche star has yet to prove he can handle that type of franchise-altering responsibility.
Byram has flashed strong transition and offensive contributions at times, but he was incredibly streaky during his time in Buffalo and he continued to struggle defensively.
Is it possible he transforms into a high-end NHL defenseman in his new role in Chicago? Perhaps, but there's no doubt the contract is a significant overpay based on his past contributions, as illustrated by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic:
An unfathomable deal for a player of Bowen Byram's current stature. pic.twitter.com/u7dfkcVYaI
— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) July 1, 2026
Those projections suggest a $21.6 million in negative on-ice value over the course of a six-year deal. It would require a significant uptick in performance just to reach a break-even level.
So, in the end, the Sabres' front office was wise to walk away from discussions once Byram's demands, and strongly preferred role, came to light. He's a talented player but not one you'd expect to reset the contract market for NHL defensemen. That's quite a burden on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Buffalo selected another defender, Daxon Rudolph, with the No. 4 pick it obtained in the trade. and Crevier could emerge as a second-pair option for the Blue and Gold in 2026-27. The No. 45 selection was flipped as part of the package to acquire defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks, another possible Owen Power partner.
That's quite a bit of blue-line value, and it also allowed the Sabres to avoid paying Byram the same amount as Connor McDavid will make from the Edmonton Oilers this season.
Bowen Byram eyes Sabres-esque turnaround for the Blackhawks in 2026-27
The Sabres were mired in a 14-year playoff drought, the longest such streak in NHL history, and it appeared that number would reach 15 after a miserable start to the 2025-26 season.
Instead, Buffalo suddenly turned everything around and went on a remarkable run to climb the Eastern Conference standings, ultimately winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Byram is hopeful a similar transformation is possible in Chicago. The Hawks finished with the second-worst record in the league this past season (72 points) and they haven't made the postseason since 2020.
"It can happen very quickly if everyone's on the same page and everyone's on board," Byram told reporters. "We were one of the worst teams in the league until the beginning of December and all of a sudden, we ended the season as the top team in the Atlantic. I learned that it can happen quickly when everyone's committed and everyone's doing the right thing."
The Blackhawks do feature a fair amount of promising young talent, led by Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, but their roster still needs work before emerging as a true Western Conference threat.
A significant part of the equation is also Byram playing up to his contract, which establishes him as an elite NHL defenseman. His points will likely increase given the high-volume role, but can he become more defensively impactful? It's far from a guarantee.
Chicago's progress could stall out if the 6-foot-1 defender doesn't take that leap forward, which would also put more pressure on Artyom Levshunov to break through and live up to his draft pedigree.
All told, the Hawks have a lot more questions than answers after the Byram extension.
The Sabres aren't completely set, either. They could still use a top-six scorer (ideally a first-line center), a little more defensive depth and maybe a goalie upgrade, though the recent rumors linking them to the Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck are seemingly starting to fizzle out.
That said, Byram's new deal shows Kekalainen clearly made the right decision to move on.
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