Bowen Byram Doesn’t Suit Up For Chicago Blackhawks – Hockey Writers – Chicago Blackhawks

Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Buffalo Sabers defenseman Bowen Byram is available for a trade.

The Chicago Blackhawks need to make significant strides next season, and in order to do it, they will need a major upgrade on the roster. The defense has a lot of young talent on it, but none of them have really broken through in the NHL.

On top of this, it was reported that the Blackhawks like Byram (from ‘could the Blackhawks pursue Sabers defenseman Bowen Byram? What I hear,’ Athletic6/19/26).

Why He Shouldn’t

Byram is an interesting case; he has a good result and is only 25 years old, but I don’t think the Blackhawks are the right team for him.

He is an extremely strong skater and handles the puck very well, two qualities that today’s NHL defensemen need to excel at. Both of those qualities are something I think Artyom Levshunov will excel at if he loses his strength.

Byram recorded 11 goals and 31 assists for 42 points in 82 games during the 2025-26 season. That offensive production would have placed him third on the Blackhawks in points and first among defensemen, 17 points ahead of the next, Louis Crevier.

That being said, Byram struggled badly at the end. Even with all the offensive stuff he brings, he’s lost his minutes, posting a 48.22 goals-percentage (xGF%).

I have been a huge advocate for Blackhawks general manager (GM) Kyle Davidson making moves to help the team now. That being said, Chicago has such a young defense right now, I don’t think Byram is the right guy to bring in.

As I said before, I think Levshunov will take the role that Byram will fill, and I hope he is at his best.

Reports also indicated that he will want more than $10 million in his next contract. I understand the cap is exploding in the next few years, and $10 million won’t be what it used to be, but I’d still be hesitant to give him that amount.

To me, I don’t see Byram as a guy who can get to the point where he’s the best defender on a trophy team. Regardless of how good he looked against the Boston Bruins in the playoffs, I think he was exposed against the Montreal Canadiens, a team that will take the game to you more than Boston.

Those are the games where you’ll see him struggle, and in a division with teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth, I think he’ll be featured more often.

They will also have to deal with his agent, Darren Ferris. He is notorious for being difficult to deal with and pushing his clients to work for free, which can end up being a huge headache for Davidson, and a distraction for the team.

In the unfortunate situation where you already have a Connor Bedard extension hanging over your head, it sounds like something I don’t want Davidson to be tied to.

On top of all this, you wouldn’t get Byram cheap. With the Sabers likely losing Alex Tuch and most of their blue line shut down, I think they’ll be looking to play in the top six to get Byram back.

I’ve seen a lot of people throw around Matthew Knies’ name as part of a Byram trade if the Sabers were to deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If that’s the level of return the Sabers would want, the Blackhawks would be looking to move someone like Frank Nazar.

I don’t think this is the move the Blackhawks should be making. I’m not high enough in Byram to want to move Nazarene.

Davidson needs to add to the blue line, but this isn’t a move the Blackhawks should make.