Report: Sabres gauging market for Byram

The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly testing the trade market for restricted free-agent defenseman Bowen Byram.

"There's no doubt his name is out there," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "There is no doubt they are gauging market value on him. We'll see where this takes us, but there is definitely noise around the Byram name and the Buffalo Sabres."

Byram is up for a new contract upon expiration of the two-year, $7.7-million contract he signed as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado dealt him to Buffalo for forward Casey Mittelstadt prior to the 2024 trade deadline.

The Sabres have approximately $21.4 million in cap space this summer, according to PuckPedia. Byram, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn are among the Sabres' most prominent RFAs this offseason. The team will also look to spend on outside help after missing the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season.

Byram played his first full campaign in 2024-25 and registered a career-high 38 points while averaging 22 minutes per contest. He tied for third among Sabres at plus-11.

Byram was the fourth overall pick in 2019. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.