Sabres start their offseason with a bang, put one of their best players up for trade

The 2026 offseason is starting off with a bang for the Buffalo Sabres.

According to a report from NHL insider Darren Dreger, the Sabres are actively looking to trade young star defenseman Bowen Byram this offseason and there are plenty of suitors.

As Dreger points out, Byram is just a year away from unrestricted free agency and there's a belief that the 25 year old blueliner is looking to cash in big time next offseason. If that's the case, it looks like the Sabres are looking to cut their losses and get some assets back before losing him for potentially nothing.

It's worth noting that Byram's name has circulated in trade rumors before with the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vegas Golden Knights all having previously shown interest.

Byram's career has been a story of immense talent, perseverance, and steady growth into one of the league's most promising young defensemen. Selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft, Byram entered the professional ranks carrying enormous expectations after a dominant junior career with the Vancouver Giants. Known for his skating ability, offensive instincts, and poise with the puck, he quickly established himself as one of hockey's top defensive prospects.

After spending additional time developing in junior hockey, Byram made his NHL debut during the shortened 2020-21 season. While his rookie campaign was relatively brief, it offered a glimpse of the dynamic skill set that had made him such a highly regarded prospect. His development, however, was not without challenges. Byram battled concussion issues early in his career, forcing him to miss significant time and raising concerns about his long-term health. To his credit, he worked diligently through those setbacks and eventually returned to become a key contributor on Colorado's blue line.

The 2021-22 season marked a major breakthrough. Byram played an important role for an Avalanche team that went on to capture the Stanley Cup. Despite his young age, he demonstrated maturity beyond his years, logging meaningful minutes throughout Colorado's championship run. His strong skating and ability to move the puck helped the Avalanche maintain the fast-paced style that made them one of the NHL's most dangerous teams. The Stanley Cup victory represented an early career milestone that many players spend an entire career chasing.

Over the next two seasons, Byram continued to develop into a reliable top-four defenseman. His offensive production steadily increased while his defensive game became more polished. By the time he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the 2024 trade deadline, he had established himself as a valuable young blueliner with significant upside. The move to Buffalo provided him with a larger opportunity and a fresh start as part of the Sabres' young core.

Since arriving in Buffalo, Byram has continued to elevate his game. He posted career-best offensive numbers while taking on increased responsibility, averaging more than 22 minutes of ice time per game and becoming a key part of the Sabres' defensive group. Through six NHL seasons, he has accumulated more than 150 career points while maintaining a positive plus-minus rating and demonstrating the two-way ability that made him such a coveted prospect.

Still only in his mid-20s, Byram remains one of the NHL's most intriguing defensemen. His combination of skating, offensive creativity, and championship experience gives him the potential to become a cornerstone player for years to come. Having already overcome significant adversity and won a Stanley Cup, Byram's career trajectory suggests his best hockey may still be ahead of him as he continues to grow into a leadership role with the Sabres. Community and media observers have frequently highlighted both his playoff performances and his continued development into a dependable top-pairing caliber defenseman.