Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams has firmly stated his intention to match any potential offer sheet tendered to restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram.
Speaking with reporters, Adams explained that the team`s strategic management of their salary cap space was a deliberate move specifically aimed at ensuring they possess the necessary financial flexibility to retain Byram should another NHL club present him with an offer sheet. This proactive approach, he noted, is designed to prevent the organization from being placed in a difficult situation and guarantees they can keep players they believe are vital contributors to the team`s success on the ice.
Despite this commitment to matching offer sheets, Adams clarified that he remains open to hearing trade proposals for Byram. However, he stressed that any potential trade would need to be a deal that genuinely improves the current roster. He reiterated that the team is not actively seeking to move Byram simply for future assets or merely for the sake of making a transaction. Byram is regarded as a player who actively helps the team secure victories.
This statement follows a recent move by the Sabres where they traded another restricted free agent, forward JJ Peterka, to the Utah Mammoth.
Byram, a 24-year-old defenseman, registered seven goals and 31 assists across 82 games during the most recent season. He originally joined the Buffalo roster in March 2024 as part of a trade package that saw Casey Mittelstadt head to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Sabres organization is intently focused on ending the NHL`s longest active playoff drought, which has now reached 14 seasons. Retaining key players like Byram is considered a significant part of their strategy to achieve this goal.
