According to David Pagnotta at The Fourth Period, the San Jose Sharks are one of the teams interested in acquiring Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram.
Byram, 24, is a left-handed shot who is hoping to get around $9 million per season on a long-term deal. He is also a restricted free agent (RFA), who could receive an offer sheet from the Sharks. However, the best option for GM Mike Grier is to pursue Byram via trade.
Over the last few days, the Sharks have been active in their attempts to improve their team. More specifically, their defense. They signed John Klingberg and Dmitry Orlov through free agency, and they also added Nick Leddy after claiming him on waivers from the St. Louis Blues.
If they could also add Byram, it would add yet another star to the rebuild and make them a true threat for years to come. Byram would pair very well with Sam Dickinson, and with his offensive talent, he would also fit well with the forward core.
The hardest part of this deal would be parting with assets so that the Sabres would accept the deal. It's not that the Sharks don't have the pieces to make it work, it would all depend on what the asking price is. It has been widely reported that the Sabres would want roster player return rather than just draft picks.
At this point, it's too hard to judge the asking price and what the Sabres would want. However, one player that would make sense is Mario Ferraro, who could be on his way out of San Jose as early as this summer.
