The Stanley Cup is finally over, and with it, the 2024-25 NHL season has come to a close. But for teams across the league, there’s no time to rest, as several franchises are already working to boost their playoff hopes.
One of the teams going all in this offseason is the Buffalo Sabres. And according to multiple reports, defenseman Bowen Byram is one of the top candidates to be moved this summer.
Byram was one of the key players for Buffalo this season. Even though they didn’t make it past the regular season, his seven goals and 38 points across 82 games stood out. And now, it looks like he already has a preferred landing spot: the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks Appear To Be the Next Stop for Bowen Byram
With free agency just two weeks away, Byram has already made it known that he wants to join the Canucks. The 24-year-old is from British Columbia, Canada, and Colorado Avalanche reporter Adrian Dater said Byram wants to be a Canuck.
I believe Byram wants to be a Canuck https://t.co/wK2EO6bAWl
— Adrian Dater (@adater) June 16, 2025
But things could get tricky for both Byram and the Sabres since he’s a restricted free agent and still two seasons away from unrestricted status. He just finished a two-year, $7.7 million deal with Buffalo, and the Sabres hold his rights.
With a cap space of more than $23 million, the Sabres are one of the teams in a position to work out a new deal. But with Byram pushing for a move, a return feels unlikely. On top of that, the Canucks’ front office has long had interest in him.
Current general manager Patrik Allvin has had Byram on his radar since he arrived in Vancouver. So now that the defenseman appears open to a move, Allvin might be ready to make a serious offer. Even back in 2023, when Byram was with the Avalanche, he was reportedly part of trade talks involving JT Miller.
With that history, teams might expect to pay around $6-8 million annually if Byram is moved. He made $3.85 million per year on his last deal, but with just days remaining before free agency opens, his price and destination could shift quickly.
The Sabres are “gauging the market” on Bowen Byram, per @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/gJnr7HYF0A
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 21, 2025
But Byram isn’t the only player whom the Sabres are currently keeping an eye on in the trade market; guys like right winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Owen Power also seem to be prime candidates for a deal.
General manager Kevyn Adams seems serious about a complete rebuild, and with their cap space, it seems more than likely that some major names will be cut from the current roster. In the scenario that the Sabres get a deal for Byram, their focus would be on another defenseman, such as Brandt Clarke from the Los Angeles Kings.
Free agency will commence on July 1 and it will be clear then if the Canucks is where Byram will be going.
