There is no doubt the Sabres need to make something happen this offseason, especially with so many jobs at stake that reside from the general manager to the coach, and even to big-name players.
That said, the 2025-26 season will mark a turning point for an organization, one that will either see the Blue and Gold either gain stability or start over. You already know what I know this team needs to do, but the chances of that happening are less than zero. So, instead of rehashing it, let’s talk about one player who's the subject of summertime trade rumors.
And yes, I know, the meteorological summer begins on June 1st, but when it’s 80 degrees out, I get summertime vibes, so it’s the term I’m rolling with. Anyway, it looks like Bowen Byram’s name is creeping up again as the upcoming trade season looms. And should the Blue and Gold move Byram, it’s something I can’t help but question.
Sabres can’t mess up what is a brewing group of blueliners
We all know what Rasmus Dahlin can do and we know what Owen Power is finally figuring out what he’s capable of. And Byram’s steamrolling toward the same level as Power, even if he may be a step behind. He finished the year with seven goals and 38 points throughout 82 games but with a sparkling plus-11. The latter of which was tied for the third-highest mark on the team, if you were wondering.
Byram also had a good nose for the puck, evidenced with his 116 blocks, which tied Connor Clifton for the team lead. Throw in an average 75 hits, plus 22:42 of average total ice time, and you’ll wonder why anyone in their right mind would trade him.
Does Kevyn Adams want to continue the Sabres reputation as the NHL’s No. 1 farm system? Because if he does, then by all means, trade Byram. Trade Byram, and watch him make you pay in the same way that Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart have.
Sure, it’s a different situation, with Eichel and Reinhart wanting out. But that’s not the case with Byram, one of the more solid and underrated blueliners in hockey. Case in point, there’s no way I’d trade Byram after what was a solid season of growth in a blue and gold sweater unless he wanted to go elsewhere.
If the Sabres trade Byram, who’s coming in to replace him?
Unless you’re tanking, you don’t trade moderately productive players unless you have someone to replace them with. And the closest name I can come up with right now is Ryan Johnson, but his production hasn’t been there throughout his chances in the lineup. Meanwhile, Jacob Bernard-Docker is a great option for third-pairing minutes, but he’s not someone a good team would want in their top four.
The only way this trade would work is if Adams has a pending unrestricted free agent in mind and one who can supersede Byram in productivity. If he does, then maybe this trade isn’t a bad idea, so long as he signs that player first and trades Byram after the fact.
If not, trading Byram would be yet another foolish decision that would keep setting the Sabres back. Right now, he’s the team’s third-best, maybe second-best defenseman. So, let’s not make a mistake here, stick to a short list of offseason musts, and keep Byram in Buffalo.