However, one notably absent name from this list is Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, who remains an RFA and therefore eligible to receive an offer sheet from an opposition NHL club.
In addition to being a strong candidate for the Sabres to trade, as they recently did with JJ Peterka, Byram is also a strong candidate to receive an offer sheet that the Sabres would either have to match or allow him to join the respective club and receive draft picks as compensation.
The Byram situation in particular is kind of interesting. There are certainly whispers out there, strong whispers I'd say, of an offer sheet for Bowen Byram.
If he ends up signing an offer sheet, that's basically somewhere on that $7 million mark where he's likely to land.
Byram, who was originally taken 4th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, was traded to the Sabres for Casey Mittelstadt in 2024.