Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram is navigating an in-between-contracts period with his last deal expired and currently sitting in the open market as a restricted free agent.
As a talented blueliner still only 24 years old, Byram is drawing league-wide interest and is considered one of the best players, if not the absolute best, available for trade.
Byram just completed a two-year, $7.7 million contract and is coming off a career-best season with 38 points and a plus-11 rating in 82 regular-season games while averaging 22:42 in ice time.
NHL insider Chris Johnston reported on Thursday's episode of "The Chris Johnston Show" that he's heard "strong whispers" of a potential offer sheet being submitted for Byram.
“The Byram situation in particular is kind of interesting,” Johnston said. “There are certainly whispers out there, strong whispers I'd say, of an offer sheet for Bowen Byram.”
While no offer sheet has been signed yet by Byram, Johnston suggested that the defenseman could receive a deal in the $7 million range, thus putting the pressure on Buffalo's front office.
“If he ends up signing an offer sheet,” Johnston said, “that’s basically somewhere on that $7 million mark where he’s likely to land.”
The Sabres have $13.6 million available in cap space with only 21 of 23 players on their active roster.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams addressed the situation on Wednesday, making it clear where the organization stands.
“We’ll be matching and have the opportunity to have a player under contract who we think helps our team win,” Adams said.
Adams added that the Sabres are open to trade offers for Byram as long as the compensation is good enough.
"I've maintained the same position that if there's a deal out there that makes sense for us that we think is going to improve our roster, we're open to it," Adams said. "If there's not, we're not in a situation where we're looking to move him out or looking to move him out for futures and stuff like that.
"For me, we want to help our team win hockey games, and he does that."
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