Byram agreed to terms on a six-year, $75 million contract with Chicago on Wednesday, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
Byram's deal will make him the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL when it kicks in next season, surpassing Erik Karlsson's $11.5 million AAV. With the NHL salary cap rising, the 25-year-old Byram is unlikely to hold that title for long. With Buffalo last year, he notched 11 goals and 31 assists in 82 regular-season games. He should be capable of topping those numbers in 2026-27, especially if he can cement himself as the quarterback for Chicago's No. 1 power-play unit.
... See More... See Less
Blackhawks' Bowen Byram: Headlines trade to Chicago
Rotowire
Byram and Jordan Greenway were traded to the Blackhawks from the Sabres on Tuesday in exchange for Louis Crevier and the fourth and 45th overall picks in 2026, freelance insider Frank Seravalli reports.
Byram is the biggest piece of the trade for now, though the Sabres' asset management is a big part of the deal. The 25-year-old Byram will likely be in discussions with Chicago's brass on an extension as he enters a contract year. With the Sabres in 2025-26, Byram had 11 goals and 42 points, both career highs, over 82 regular-season games. He added 109 shots on net, 93 blocked shots, 50 hits, 48 PIM and a plus-15 rating. Byram is one of the most experienced blueliners on the Blackhawks' roster and should be in contention for top-four minutes and power-play time.
Byram scored a power-play goal on two shots in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 1.
Byram has provided quality offense from the blue line this postseason with four goals, two assists and 17 shots on net over seven games. This was his first power-play point of the postseason. The defenseman also has six blocked shots, five hits and a plus-7 rating. He's a lock to see top-four minutes heading into Game 2.
Byram produced a goal and an assist Sunday during the Sabres' 6-1 win over the Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round series.
It was the second straight two-point performance for Byram, and the third straight game in which he's found the back of the net. The 24-year-old blueliner has caught fire at the right time for Buffalo, and he'll look to stay locked in as his team attempts to advance to the second round with a win in Game 5 on Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: Two-point effort in win Thursday
Rotowire
Byram produced a goal and an assist Thursday during the Sabres' 3-1 win over the Bruins in Game 3 of their first-round series.
The 24-year-old blueliner got Buffalo on the board midway through the second period before helping to set up Alex Tuch's game-winner early in the third. Byram delivered a career-high 11 goals and 42 points over 82 games during the regular season, and he's stepped up his output to begin the playoffs with two goals and three points in three contests.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: Pots goal in Game 2 loss
Rotowire
Byram scored a goal on four shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2.
Byram ended a four-game point drought with the tally. He also has six shots on net, two hits and a plus-1 rating over two playoff contests so far. This is his third time in the postseason -- he logged 12 assists over 27 games across his previous two runs, which included being a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche in 2022. Byram had a career year this regular season with 11 goals and 42 points over 82 outings, and he has more playoff experience than many of his Sabres teammates, which could be valuable for this run.
Byram picked up two assists in Monday's 4-2 win over the Lightning.
The 24-year-old blueliner had a hand in tallies by Alex Tuch in the first period and Jason Zucker in the second, the latter proving to be the game-winner. It was Byram's first multi-point effort since March 8, as he puts the finishing touches on a career-best regular season that's seen him produce 11 goals and 41 points in 78 contests with 106 shots on net, 90 blocked shots, 50 hits, 48 PIM and a plus-11 rating.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: Pots empty-netter
Rotowire
Byram scored an empty-net goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Islanders.
Byram ended a 31-game goal drought with the empty-netter, which ended up as the game-winner when the Islanders scored late. Byram earned seven points, 27 shots on net, 17 hits and 12 blocked shots over 15 outings in March. He's matched his career high of 38 points and set a personal best with 11 goals through 75 outings this season. The defenseman has added 104 shots on net, 87 blocked shots, 49 hits, 48 PIM and a plus-13 rating while filling a top-four role.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: Distributes three assists
Rotowire
Byram logged three assists, seven shots on goal and 12 PIM in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Lightning.
One of his helpers came on the power play. Byram isn't typically one to mix things up, but he got into it as part of a first-period fracas featuring multiple fights and other dust-ups. On offense, Byram has 10 assists over his last 12 outings. He's at 35 points -- three shy of his career-best total from last year -- while adding 87 shots on net, 76 blocked shots, 35 hits, 42 PIM and a plus-11 rating in 64 appearances.
Byram recorded an assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Penguins.
Byram has earned three assists and eight blocked shots over the last five contests. He had a rough middle portion of January after carrying a lot of momentum around the holiday break and into the new year. The 24-year-old defenseman is at 28 points (10 goals, 18 helpers), 71 shots on net, 70 blocked shots, 31 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-9 rating over 57 appearances. That pace gives him a chance to reach the 40-point mark for the first time in his career.
Byram scored a goal on two shots, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Ducks.
Byram has surged lately with four goals and seven assists over his last nine outings. With his tally Saturday, he's reached the 10-goal mark for the third time in four years, and he's one shy of matching his career high from 2023-24. The 24-year-old defenseman has 24 points, 58 shots on net, 55 blocked shots, 27 hits and a plus-5 rating over 43 appearances this season. He's scoring plenty and has just enough all-around appeal to be useful in most fantasy formats.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: Two helpers against Canucks
Rotowire
Byram notched two assists in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Vancouver.
The blueliner stayed hot, helping to set up tallies by Tage Thompson in the first period and Alex Tuch in the second. Byram has erupted for three goals and nine points over the last seven games. He has added 11 shots on net, nine blocked shots, five hits and a plus-10 rating over that span for the surging Sabres.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Bowen Byram: One of each Wednesday
Rotowire
Byram scored a goal on two shots, added an assist, logged three hits and went plus-3 in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Stars.
Byram has three goals and four assists over his last five outings. The defenseman's goal late in the second period stood as the game-winner, and he also helped out on a Tage Thompson tally in the third. Byram is up to 20 points, 51 shots on net, 48 blocked shots, 26 hits and a plus-1 rating over 39 contests this season. He's never reached the 40-point mark in any of his first five campaigns, but he's on pace to do just that in 2025-26.
1:53
1:17
1:18
1:06
1:04
1:17
8:57
1:19
0:59
0:48
5:14
1:16
1:01
0:36
12:59
0:36
0:44
1:08
