As of 5 PM on Saturday, defenseman Bowen Byram turned down arbitration for the Sabres, which was a surprise to many. This means that Byram can receive an offer sheet, be traded, or still re-sign with the Sabres. Normally, when a player does this, it means they have leverage in contract negotiations.
For those who don’t know what arbitration is in hockey, it is a tool used in the NHL to settle contract disputes between teams and certain restricted free agents. Players can file for salary arbitration if the two parties cannot agree on a desired salary. An arbitrator will be appointed to determine a salary that both parties can agree upon.
So this is where things now get interesting for Byram and the Sabres. Byram can still get an offer sheet but gives up leverage on a contract negotiation with the Sabres if he takes it.
If he doesn’t get an offer sheet, then the Sabres hold all the power in a sense in the contract negotiations.
If he’s traded, then the leverage would transfer to the team that just picked him, and now Byram would work through contract negotiations.
From Byram’s perspective, for him to make this decision, he has to have some sort of backup plan in his pocket. Either he is close to a deal with the Sabres, or he knows an offer sheet is basically on its way from another team. He can use this as leverage as a trade is getting close.
Darren Ferris, Byram’s agent, is deemed one of the best agents in the league. Byram looked like he was getting seven million per season, but requested nine million. The second window for arbitration is tomorrow at 5 PM.
The Sabres can select for arbitration again, but then Byram can select a 1 or 2-year contract. If he picks 2 years, he walks himself right to unrestricted free agency. This whole saga gets more interesting as time goes on, but if the Sabres can’t work something out before next season begins, they could be in serious trouble.