Could the St. Louis Blues try to add another change-of-scenery defensemen to their blue line, which has been altered over the past 12 months 0with the acquisitions of Cam Fowler and Philip Broberg?
23-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram is on his second team in three years, and he may soon be switching teams again, at least recording to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
His market value is being assessed by the Sabres. A contract is required for Byram. Buffalo has two more years of team control before he becomes an unrestricted free agency, so they don’t have to do anything here,” Friedman said. “Anytime a team trades for a player like Buffalo did a few years ago, you know they see value in him and they like him.” Therefore, that must constantly be a part of your total perspective. Nonetheless, his name is undoubtedly known.
Friedman also noted that Byram recently changed agents and that always creates conversation.
At the 2023 trade deadline, the Sabres sent Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado in exchange for Byram. Byram has high-end talent because Colorado selected him fourth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. Regretfully, at the NHL level, that hasn’t yet materialized.
Whenever a former top pick becomes available, especially one that’s still as young as Byram, you have to wonder where he could land. Any team could use a player with Byram’s potential, but the fit has to be right.
Five NHL defensemen have already committed to the Blues for the upcoming season, each with a minimum cap hit of $4 million. There may be some leeway because both Cam Fowler and Nick Leddy are free agents in the summer, but at least Fowler wants to stay in St. Louis. Kyle Tucker and Matthew Kessel are more depth defensive possibilities for the Blues.
CapWages projects a five-year deal with a cap hit just over $7 million for Byram, but it is possible he opts for a short-term pact.
Could Byram be acquired by the Blues in light of all of that? Although it would be difficult and the return would need to be mutually beneficial, it doesn’t seem likely at this time.