Bowen Byram, defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres, has signed a two-year contract extension with the team. The deal carries an average annual value of $6.25 million and keeps Byram under contract through the 2026-27 NHL season.
Byram spent his offseason near Cranbrook, British Columbia, focusing on training while also enjoying time with family and friends. He acknowledged hearing rumors about his future as a restricted free agent but expressed relief after finalizing the agreement with Buffalo.
“I’m happy it’s done and out of the way, now,” Byram said in an interview with Sabres.com and Sabres Live. “and I can focus on getting prepared for the season and getting back with the guys and getting on the ice, which we’re all excited to do.”
Reflecting on his time in Buffalo so far, Byram noted that he has been given more responsibility and playing time across various situations including power play and penalty kill minutes.
“Personally, I’ve been pretty happy with my time in Buffalo,” he said. “I think I’ve mentioned it before that I’ve got an opportunity to play a bigger role and play more minutes, whether it’s the offensive side, power play, penalty kill. So, I’m happy with that.
“Just [trying] to continue to grow no matter who I’m playing with or what kind of situations I’m put into. I think, as a player, I have a lot more to give, and I’m looking forward to having that opportunity to do so.”
During the 2024-25 season, Byram set career highs in several statistical categories: games played (82), average time on ice (22:42), points (38), plus-minus (+11), shots on goal (94), and shot blocks (116). He logged significant minutes both shorthanded and on the power play.
One highlight of last season was Byram’s partnership with captain Rasmus Dahlin. Together at five-on-five play, they helped Buffalo maintain advantages in shot attempts, shots on goal, goals scored, and expected goals percentage compared to opponents—a pairing performance comparable to top defensive duos in the league such as Colorado’s Cale Makar and Devon Toews.
“Ras is one of the best defensemen in the world,” Byram said. “… When I’m playing with him, I just try to take care of the defensive side of the puck, make sure that I’m hanging back and giving him the freedom to get up ice and join the play and do his thing.
“But I also try not to let it take away from my own game too much. I think we play quite well together. We balance each other out quite well. We both think the game in a similar way and are able to move the puck up the ice together, get the puck in our forwards’ hands. So, I really enjoy playing with him.”
The Sabres have made moves this offseason aimed at improving their defense by acquiring right-shot blueliners Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins through trades—additions expected to allow for more natural pairings among defensemen next season.
“The addition of Kesselring, that’ll really help us out, because we were kind of missing a big right-handed shot,” Byram said. “… We’ve had a lot of lefty-lefty pairs over the years, and I think we’ve done a good job with it, but having a couple more right-handed shots mixed in definitely simplifies things for us and makes it a little more easy. So, I think we’re all really excited about that acquisition.
“… Our D corps is really starting to come together, and I think it’s gonna be a strength of our team moving forward here.”
Improving defensively is important for Buffalo after allowing one of the highest goal totals in the league last year; these changes are intended to help make them more competitive for playoff contention.
Byram previously won a Stanley Cup with Colorado at age 20. He expressed hope that his experience could contribute toward ending Buffalo’s long playoff drought.
“I was very fortunate to be on a team in Colorado that was successful right when I got there; there’s a lot of guys around the league that have to wait for a long time, if ever, to get into the playoffs or win a championship,” Byram said.
“So, it’d be a pretty special feeling. Especially with the playoff drought that’s been going on in Buffalo, it’d be pretty cool to be able to break through and get to that next level. I know it’d mean a lot to the community and our fans, and also mean a lot to a lot of people in the dressing room.”
