The Buffalo Sabres might soon part ways with Bowen Byram, as teams across the NHL are lining up with interest in the young defenseman. The Vancouver Canucks seem to be leading the pack.
Byram, just 23, appears ready for a change of scenery – even though he only arrived in Buffalo a few months ago.
"I would not be surprised if the Canucks are in the mix," says Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK. He adds that Vancouver’s front office has had their eye on Byram "since the day they arrived."
It’s not just idle speculation. Hockey insider Adrian Dater put it bluntly: "I believe Byram wants to be a Canuck."
The numbers tell an interesting story. Since joining the Sabres, Byram’s put up impressive offensive stats – 38 points with seven goals and 31 assists. He’s also logging serious ice time, averaging over 22 minutes per game.
But there’s a catch. His defensive play hasn’t quite matched the offensive flash, especially when it comes to stopping opponents rushing up the ice.
Still, being a Stanley Cup champion at such a young age makes him an attractive target. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports that teams are actively calling Buffalo about potential trades.
There’s another wrinkle to this story: Byram needs a new contract. He’s a restricted free agent, which might be pushing the Sabres toward making a move.
The fit in Vancouver isn’t exactly clear-cut, though. The Canucks already have Quinn Hughes and Marcus Pettersson handling their left-side defense. It’s worth noting that one reason Byram’s looking to leave Buffalo is because he’s stuck behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power on the depth chart.
Would he really want to jump into another situation where he’s not in the top two? That’s the question everyone’s asking.
