5 trade destinations for Buffalo Sabers’ defensive player Bowen Byram – Hockey Writer – Buffalo Pedao

When Buffalo Saber acquired Bowen Byram on the 2024 NHL trade deadline, it was understood that the team added a talented Blueliner who immediately improved his defense. However, his time on the saber seems to be about to end.

“We said it will be a hot name for this summer. I just heard a lot of noise around him.” – Elliotte Friedman on RFA Bowen Byram

(32 ideas) pic.twitter.com/j9twsyrnxv

– Sabresource (@sabresource1) June 6, 2025

With Byram going to be a restricted free agent on July 1, multiple reports from insiders including Elliotte Friedman said Sabers and Byram hope to split up this offseason. Chad Dedominicis also has a report Expected Buffalo He hopes Saber trades Byram in the 2025 NHL draft. Here are five teams and it will be a great landing point for him.

Toronto maple leaves

Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make major changes to the roster this summer, between uncertainties between Mitch Marner and John Tavares, and Matthew Knies’ status as a restricted free agent. One area that Maple Leaf seems to be missing is a real puck, left-handed defender.

Morgan Rielly is an underrated defender, but Byram will help Maple Leaf in every aspect, especially offense. Outside Rielly, the team’s defense is very thin and has finished with the top four in Rielly, Byram, Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo (who got the 2025 trade deadline), which will be an upgrade to the present. If they want to overcome the playoff hump, they should get Byram.

The Maple Leafs have some options that can be included in Byram’s trade, including defenseman Oliver Ekman Larson and winger Nicholas Robertson. Given that Ekman-Larsson is 33 years old, he is by no means a long-term fix for the Blue Line, but he is more of a Bridge player until the Saber can find a stable Power partner. What makes Ekman-Larsson an attractive asset is that he will make $3.5 million a quarter by 2027-2028, so he signed a very affordable contract. He will be a reliable right gunguard defender who can play with Owen Power in the Sabres’ second defensive opposition.

Robertson is a 23-year-old winger with some upside, but is only buried in the depth map of Maple Leafs. Last season, he scored a career-high 15 goals in 69 games. With only 12 minutes of playing a night, he doesn’t have much chance to grow and develop, and on the sabre, he has a great chance because their lineup is not that strong.

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis Bruce and Sabre may be the perfect trading partner. The Blues lack left-handed defenders, and the Saber lacks right-handed defenders. The Blues have a surplus of right-handed defenders who can offer in the trade of Byram. None of them are long-term solutions, as most of them are in their 30s and will be unrestricted free agents after the 2025-2026 season, but they can help Sabers’ blue line, especially the strength.

Players like Cam Fowler will have an immediate impact on Sabers’ blue line, but the Blues will not only have to send Byram to land him. They also have to add a young forward to the height, such as the 23-year-old Jack Neighbor. He played all 82 games this season, recording a career-high in assists (24) and points (46) while also scoring 22 goals. In the playoffs, he recorded six points (one goal and five assists) in seven games.

The only question is whether the Blues are willing to trade their neighbors as he has the potential to be one of the best players on the team. However, to change to a good player, you need to trade a good player.

Anaheim duck

The Anaheim Ducks can use defenders like Byram. Even if the group has a large number of young defensive players in development, Byram’s experience at the age of 25 will affect and on the ice. Anaheim has four under-25 defenders: Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, Jackson Lacombe and Drew Hellesson. Players who add Byram’s abilities will significantly improve the defensive core, and he will pair well with Lacombe’s top tier.

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If I had to guess, Helson would be the weird guy. He has some upside, which is what the blue line needs on the blue line, and he is right-handed, which should make him attractive to the club.

The Ducks ended with 80 points this season, which is 21 points better than last season. Adding Byram to the roster ready to continue to grow should help the Ducks compete for the playoffs next season.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings need a defender. Outside Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, their blue lines are aging and weak. Fortunately, all of their contracts expire after the 2025-2026 season, except for Seider’s, which makes this a great opportunity to trade Byram.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman tried to attract elderly veterans to coach his young players, but this approach didn’t work. I think it’s time to switch things and attract young players who are about to go into primes, which starts with getting Byram. Saber may not be willing to swap potential top defenders for a division opponent, but they do go to Ottawa Senator Dylan for the deadline, so anything is possible.

In Byram’s deal, Axel Sandin-Pellikka will have to be the main asset for trading to the Saber. He ranked 17th in the 2023 NHL Admission Draft, and he hasn’t made his NHL debut yet, but one of Red Wings’ highest prospects, they hope to push the NHL roster to the NHL next season. He is a valuable asset with high ceilings and a great defender in the league for over a decade.

King of Los Angeles

The King of Los Angeles is perfect for Byram. Not only will the King have the assets to acquire him, but the champions by Byram next to Brandt Clarke, the right-handed defensive player of the Right Gunner, will be perfect in the top subject. The two of them can run Los Angeles for the next decade. Unfortunately, the Kings may have to separate the deal with defender Jordan Spence. Sabre requires a right-handed defender to play out, and Spence will be the perfect choice.

The King will have to give up landing byram more than Spence, but the deal here makes sense to both sides. The Kings also have hat room to sign Byram during the offseason. The Kings have $24.6 million available, and although they have several players whose contracts expire in Vladislav Gavrikov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Tanner Jeannot and Alex Laferriere, they still have enough hat room to sign for a long time.

Byram will trade in the offseason; it’s just a matter of asking price. The basis of trade and negotiated assets takes time to achieve. Where will Byram be at the start of next season?