Last week, the Chicago Blackhawks completed a trade that acquired Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Louis Crevier and two draft picks. One of those picks was 4th overall in 2026, which the Sabres used on defenseman Daxon Rudolph. 

Part of acquiring Byram was the fact that he only has one year left on his current deal. The Blackhawks didn't take long to extend him. 

On Wednesday, the first day eligible, Byram and the Hawks have a reported six-year extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million. This makes him the highest-paid (for now) player on the Chicago Blackhawks. 

This is a hefty contract for Byram, who will be the highest-paid defenseman in the league when it kicks in. Eventually, guys like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and others will surpass that, but the fact that it ever was the truth is bold for Chicago. 

Right now, this already has the makings of an albatross contract for Chicago. Byram is a very good player, and they should have taken him 3rd overall in 2019 when they had the chance, but this may not age well. 

Byram has never been a team's number one. He isn't a defensive-minded player, but he has a high ceiling offensively, which is why the Blackhawks wanted him. Still, paying north of $12 million for an offensive defenseman who has never had 50 points in the NHL is a risk. 

To be the highest-paid player at your position, you should probably bring the goods in all three zones, and Byram hasn't proven that he can do that yet. It's largely because of his situation, but they are still paying him ahead of knowing for sure. 

On the contrary, this could prove to be a massive win for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks if Byram shows that the only reason he was never an elite point producer is that his whole career has been spent in the shadows of either Cale Makar or Rasmus Dahlin. 

Regardless of how it comes off initially, there is a lot of pressure on both sides when it comes to this deal that won't truly kick in until the 2027-28 season. 

UPDATE: Blackhawks make it official

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