Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram had a career-high 38 points last season. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8c4c22f2-07e7-41b1-9e74-5af629323d4d.jpeg] Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram had a career-high 38 points last season. The Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. The Sabres acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche last March for center Casey Mittelstadt. That deal was partly made because Mittelstadt was an RFA one year away from hitting the open market, and Buffalo did not want to extend Mittelstadt after signing Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens to long-term deals. Byram still had a year left on a deal signed with the Avs and two years before qualifying for unrestricted free agency. Other Sabres Stories Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/is-peterka-in-prime-position-for-big-payday] Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-ownership-ranked-worst-in-nhl-by-survey-in-the-athletic] Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-facing-an-off-season-of-change] The 23-year-old has encountered injuries throughout his young career, but played a full 82 games last season, which was important for him going into a contract year. Byram’s situation in Buffalo is up in the air, because he never fully realize his full potential playing behind or with a pair of top overall picks signed to long term deals. "I've been lucky enough to come in and get a really good opportunity and play important minutes and meaningful minutes, and I've really enjoyed that. I've taken some strides in my game, and I'll continue to try to improve and turn it to be the best version of myself as possible." Byram said at locker cleanout last month. "I'll talk to my camp (about a new contract) and talk to Kevin, and we'll figure out what the next step is. I'm excited for that process." Byram recently switched to Darren Ferris, the same agent as Toronto’s Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner is likely to go this summer. The blueliner is eligible for salary arbitration this summer, and could choose to slow walk the Sabres and sign another bridge deal, but with Adams and Buffalo looking to make a move to end their long playoff drought, there has been increasing speculation that the Vancouver native could be moved in a trade before next season. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo]
