DETROIT, MI - MARCH 12: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) turns to pass during the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres March 12, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)
Now that the Philadelphia Flyers have their head coach, it’s time to shift focus to giving Rick Tocchet the roster to compete next season.
The Flyers have some glaring holes in their roster, including a number one center, bolstering the blueline, and finding a solution in goal.
This offseason, there are no UFAs or even RFAs that truly solidify those, but there are players who have the potential to fill such gaps available.
Now that Tocchet will be the Flyers’ bench boss, Quinn Hughes will undoubtedly be a name floated around. However, that would cost a boatload and run the risk of him getting on the turnpike and heading to Newark to join his brothers in the 2027 offseason.
Instead, I suggest taking the risk on Buffalo Sabres pending RFA Bowen Byram.
Is Bowen Byram Worth the Risk?
Bowen Bryram is not Quinn Hughes. They don’t play the same game. However, they do possess some of the same skills.
Quinn Hughes is much more of an offensive defenseman than Byram is. Hughes is a dominant point producer who is known for his offensive game. Byram is more of a two-way defender with more offensive upside.
While Bryam definitely has more potential as an offensive defenseman than a lockdown defender, he is definitely more of a two-way player.
However, after seeing what kind of monster Quinn Hughes became while playing for Tocchet, you wonder what he could do for a player like Byram.
The Sabres blueliner is coming fresh off his first 82-game season, where he posted 7 goals and 31 assists for 38 points, and a rating of +11. On that Sabres team, that is a great stat line. That would have led Flyers defensemen in points.
The season prior, Bryam played 73 games split between the Avalanche and Sabres, where he had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points.
Byram was a power-play and penalty-kill player last season for the Sabres.
Injury concern is part of the risk in trading for Bowen Bryam. He has had three concussions during his NHL career, as well as a lower-body injury that caused him to miss half of the 2022-23 season. However, two almost full seasons back-to-back are a promising sign for his health.
Byram will be 24 when the 2025-26 season begins, which fits him into the Flyers’ long-term plans. He would pair nicely with Travis Sanheim on the top-pair for the Flyers on the left side.
Bowen Byram would be worth the risk.
What Could the Flyers Give Up for Bowen Bryam
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Sabres could entertain trade inquiries on their pending RFA this offseason, because, like the Flyers, they are looking to become competitors this offseason.
With a defensive corps already containing Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson, Pagnotta reported that the Sabres could look to trade Byram and add a top-six forward into the mix. That’s where the Flyers could come into play.
