The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up their big off-season acquisition.
The Hawks inked Bowen Byram to a monster new extension, committing to a six-year deal worth $75 million to the defenceman. The contract, which kicks in for the 2027-28 campaign, carries an annual AAV of $12.5 million. According to Spotrac, that will make Byram the NHL's highest-paid defenceman that season, with pending extensions for Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes expected to surpass it.
Byram was obtained from the Buffalo Sabres just before the NHL Draft for a package built around the fourth-overall pick. Chicago has been looking for ways to push its rebuild forward and making the 25-year-old Byram its top offensive option on the blueline is a big part of that.
Like star centre Connor Bedard, Byram is a British Columbia boy and the two are said to be thrilled at the prospect of playing together. Byram — originally drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019 — experienced serious concussion-related problems early in his career. A move to Buffalo at the 2024 trade deadline helped Byram get his career back on track, and he was a big part of the Sabres’ resurgence this season. Playing largely on the second pair with Owen Power, Byram posted a career-best 42 points and added seven more — including three goals — in 13 post-season contests.
While he still has one more year to go on his current deal, Byram was looking for a move to a place where he could get the kind of minutes that were unavailable to him in Western New York with Rasmus Dahlin carrying the No. 1 tag.
Now, the talented D-man will get all the ice he needs to prove he’s worth this lofty investment — both in terms of trade capital and money — by the Hawks.
CHI