Former Top-5 Pick Could be Traded Before NHL Free Agency: Report

The Colorado Avalanche had high hopes for defenseman Bowen Byram when they drafted him fourth overall back in 2019.

But after just three seasons, the team shipped him to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a trade that brought back center Casey Mittlestadt, the eighth overall pick in 2017.

In the two-and-a-half seasons since, Byram has put up the two best statistical years of his career (18 goals and 80 points across 164 games), but it's possible his time in Buffalo may be coming to an end too, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

"Multiple teams exploring a trade with the Buffalo Sabres involving Dman, Bo Byram," Dreger wrote. "Byram has 1 yr left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted Free Agent. Agent, Darren Ferris has some history with marching players to the open market. Motivation for trade consideration."

The news comes as a bit of a surprise for a Sabres team that shipped defenseman Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks as part of a first-round pick swap.

If Byram is traded, Buffalo will be left with just five defensemen under contract next season - Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Conor Timmins, and Zach Metsa (Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley are both unrestricted free agents).

Teams that could have interest in trading for Byram include the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights - all of which expressed interest in Byram at the trade deadline back in March.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 1:20 PM.