The expectations on every one of the Buffalo Sabres' players are all about getting this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But other than that, the expectations change from player-to-player. And to that end, THN.com's Sabres site is breaking down the expectations on each and every Buffalo player this coming season.
We started this player-by-player series with a look at the Sabres' goaltenders. More recently, we've been focusing on Buffalo's blueline with breakdowns of the expectations on D-men Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. And in this file, we're turning our attention to a player who was in the headlines to a great degree this summer -- defenseman Bowen Byram.
The 24-year-old Byram was an RFA this summer, but late in the signing period, he agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25-million. Now, Byram has to deliver on his end of the bargain with a strong 2025-26 campaign. And below, we're going to break down the expectations for Byram this year.
Player Name: Bowen Byram
Position: Defenseman
Age: 24
2024-25 Key Statistics: 82 games, 31 assists, 38 points, 22:42 average time-on-ice
2025-26 Salary: $6.25-million
2025-26 Expectations: Byram was Buffalo's second-most-utilized player last season, averaging nearly one more minute of ice time per-game for a new career-best in that department, However, Byram's career-best total of 38 points has to be understood in the big picture -- and the big picture indicates that this past season was Byram's first full 82-game campaign, which was nine games more than his previous career-high.
Meanwhile, Byram's new salary is a raise of nearly $3-million-per-year from his 2024-25 salary of $3.85 million. With that in mind, it's understandable that expectations on Byram are going to be considerably higher this coming year. Only Dahlin was on the ice more than Byram last season, so Byram needs to set a higher bar for himself, and clear that bar.
Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His GameThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is only a handful of weeks away, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve started a player-by-player series that analyzes each Sabre this past season and their probable contributions next year.
Byram has the next two seasons to prove himself as a truly elite NHL blueliner. Because at the end of that period, he's going to be a UFA -- and if he does succeed at improving to a Grade-A level, he could price himself outside of Buffalo's salary cap structure and strike it rich when next he's a free-agent.
Indeed, with Dahlin and Power getting more money than Byram for the foreseeable future, Byram may have to go elsewhere to find greener financial pastures than what is likely to be available to him in Buffalo. He could have to choose between staying a Sabre and making a choice as a businessman, and the choice he makes may not be in Buffalo's best interest.
Byram doesn't need to win a Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman to justify his salary increase. That said, he does need to continue putting up more points in each of the next two seasons. If he fails to do so, the Sabres may look to trade him before his current contract ends.
Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Captain Dahlin Facing Intense Pressure To Lead Buffalo To PlayoffsThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve just kicked off a series that analyzes each Sabres player and the expectations they’ll be facing next season. All of them as a group have one singular goal – ending Buffalo’s Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years – but as individuals, there are different things they’ll need to deal with.
Byram doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection in his new deal, and if the Sabres did put him on the trade block, there would be no shortage of teams lining up to acquire him. After all, he's still well in advance of his peak years, and there's always going to be a team or two (or three) that believes a change in scenery can lead to better performances from any particular player.
Byram wouldn't be the first NHL defenseman to encounter a bump or two in his road of development, and he wouldn't be the last in that regard, either. Buffalo has to show some patience with him, but at his current pay grade, that sense of patience won't be there for him forever.
Byram has got to be part of a winning picture in Western New York, or face an uncertain future and a potential new start with a different team. It's that straightforward a situation for him, and as it stands, he can dictate his future with a strong 2025-26 showing.