In a recent mailbag for Daily Faceoff [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-mailbag-trade-candidates-offseason-bowen-byram-sabres-sharks-couturier-buyout-flyers-centers-matthews-tkachuk], Anthony Di Marco named a handful of NHL trade candidates to watch during the summer. Among the players Di Marco discussed is Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. "The Buffalo Sabres are surging right now, but defenseman Bowen Byram may still ultimately want a new destination in the long run. Signing just a two-year contract extension last summer and rumored to want to have more of an opportunity to be a legit no. 1 defender, he may chase another situation," Di Marco wrote [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-mailbag-trade-candidates-offseason-bowen-byram-sabres-sharks-couturier-buyout-flyers-centers-matthews-tkachuk]. Byram is no stranger to being in the rumor mill, so it is easy to understand why he is being named as a potential summer trade candidate. The 24-year-old defenseman would certainly have the potential to get the Sabres a nice return in a move, as he is a young top-four blueliner having a strong year. Byram could be exactly the kind of trade chip the Sabres used to upgrade their roster elsewhere. The Sabres could use another top-six center or top-four right-shot defenseman. However, with Byram being a key part of the Sabres' defense, it would also be understandable if they keep him around. In 80 games this season, he has set new career highs with 11 goals and 42 points. It will be interesting to see what happens between Byram and the Sabres from here. He will be a pending unrestricted free agent during the 2026-27 season.
