Defenseman Bowen Byram has frequently seen his name surface in the trade rumor mill recently. Among the teams linked to the blueliner is the Edmonton Oilers. They are looking for an upgrade and would love to add someone like Byram if the Buffalo Sabres choose to make him available. But, one insider believes the cost is too dear.
The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell mentioned Byram’s name on a list of proposed trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers. Saying the team could use a right or left-shot defenseman who faces big minutes against elite talent, he is the perfect fit and tops on his list. He writes, “Byram would be an exceptional long-term bet.” Unfortunately, he’s also the most expensive. The cost of acquiring Byram and the assets needed to make that trade could exclude the Oilers from the running.
What Would the Oilers Cost Be to Trade for Byram?
The Byram trade is the kind of trade that Edmonton made when they acquired Mattias Ekholm ahead of the 2023 playoffs. At the time, the Predators were feeling the pinch and did a last-minute deal that they likely regret. Edmonton moved Tyson Barrie and prospect Reid Schaefer, along with a first-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick in 2024. It was a huge price to pay, but it worked out incredibly well. Ekholm has fit like a glove, become a leader for the Oilers, and has been instrumental in their success. The Predators have struggled since.
Byram is younger by a decade. He’s cheaper at $3.85 million, and he’s a pending RFA under team control. He’s got arbitration rights, but if the Oilers and Byram can agree, there is no reason the two sides can’t figure out a reasonable extension at the end of the season. If they can get him under contract, Byram is an ideal fit for Edmonton.
Still, the price will be significant. If the Sabres want picks and prospects, the Oilers will have to move something valuable. If Buffalo wants a player back because their goal is to compete, the Oilers have to find something the Sabres like.
That’s a tall task. And, even if the Sabres don’t have the greatest track record with trades, they aren’t going to take the OIlers’ scrap pieces for a bonafide top-four defenseman.
