Sabres’ Priority Should Be Re-Signing Bowen Byram

Byram has already matched his career high in points (29, last season) and surpassed his high for assists (22 and counting). More importantly, he is playing alongside Rasmus Dahlin and in critical situations. Finding a reliable partner for Dahlin has been tough, and Byram seems to be a calming presence in that role.

He ranks above the 70^th percentile both offensively and defensively. Watching him, the two-way game is there, and he’s 16^th among defensemen in even-strength points per 60, showing how good he is at both ends of the ice. He’s also just 23 years old, and his ceiling could truly be that of a top-pairing defenseman.

Byram Is a Critical Part of This Season and Beyond

The Sabres are trying to find a foundation, one that can carry them not only into the playoffs next season but also establish them as contenders beyond that. They have one of the most promising young defensive corps in the league, and Byram is a big part of that. Getting him signed should be one of the major goals for the offseason.

The Sabres drive a lot of their offense from the back end. The skating ability of Dahlin and Power makes forwards like Tage Thompson, J.J. Peterka, and others more effective. The fact that both are coming into their own and finding a stronger defensive presence only makes things better.

Given how young he, Dahlin, and Owen Power are, it is safe to say that their best days are still ahead of them. That kind of trio could turn the Sabres into a formidable force before long. If they are going to shed the issues that have plagued the franchise for so long, the back end is going to be a driving force in that.

Long-Term May Be an Issue

Money aside, there is one big issue facing the Sabres when it comes to re-signing Byram, and that is his role on the defense. He has spoken about wanting to become a No.1 defenseman in his career, and that just doesn’t seem likely in Buffalo. Dahlin is one of the game’s elite defensemen, and Power is coming into his own offensively while finding his game defensively.

Seemingly, no matter how good Byram is, the glass ceiling is in place. If he is determined to truly become a team’s No.1 defenseman, there isn’t room for that in Buffalo. He would have to be happy in one of two scenarios: being Dahlin’s partner on the top pair or part of a very good second pairing.

Money could potentially fix everything, but that’s one of the things that a general manager has to balance across each season. Locking down Byram past the next few years may be a bigger challenge than the Sabres can manage in its current framework.

Byram Is a Foundational Piece

The trade for Byram last season is looking better all the time, especially given the struggles of Casey Mittelstadt in Colorado. The fact that he has been counted upon to play so many big minutes shows how much confidence the team and coaching staff have in him.

Locking him up for the long term should be a top priority for the Sabres. His best years are ahead of him, and it would be nice to see him blossom into a top defenseman alongside Dahlin, Power, and the rest of the young Sabres core.