Bruins Trade Proposal Sends Coveted RFA D-Man to Boston

The Boston Bruins could land coveted RFA Bowen Byram from division rivals, the Buffalo Sabres, if the team can pull off the right deal.

Byram has been the subject of trade speculation since the Sabres officially ended their season more than two months ago. Byram is an RFA and seemingly unlikely to re-sign in Buffalo. While the Sabres are willing to pay Byram, there is no certainty that the two sides can work out a deal.

So, the Sabres are between a rock and a hard place. They can either retain Byram and risk an offer sheet, or trade Byram for the best offer they can get.

Meanwhile, the Bruins could use another high-end blue liner to provide support for cornerstone D-man Charlie McAvoy. As it stands, the Bruins have two solid top-pairing defensemen in McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. However, Lindholm spent most of last season out with injury after going down 17 games into the campaign.

Lindholm will hopefully be healthy, and Byram could complement what Lindholm and McAvoy bring to the table.

Here’s how the proposed trade idea could work:

Bruins get:

Bowen Byram, D (RFA)

2026 fourth-round pick

Sabres get:

2026 first-round pick

Fabian Lysell, F

Andrew Peeke, D

The Bruins get Byram and a fourth-rounder as a means of recouping a draft pick. As for the Sabres, they get a first-rounder for Byram, essentially. The Bruins have two in the 2026 NHL Draft, so the team can afford to part with one of them.

Additionally, the Bruins will need to throw in a defenseman to help the Sabres cover Byram’s lineup spot. Peeke is a solid, if unspectacular, blue liner. Plus, the Bruins need to clear cap space to accommodate Byram’s new contract.

Fabian Lysell is a prospect the Sabres could be interested in getting. Lysell is a former first-round pick and played 12 games this past season. He scored a goal and two assists for three points. Lysell could crack the Sabres’ lineup next season if given the chance.

Bruins Still Need to Clear More Cap Space

This trade proposal doesn’t account for the fact that the Sabres will need to clear more cap space. One idea would have been to send Pavel Zacha to the Sabres. However, Zacha has an eight-team no-trade clause. If the Sabres are on that list, the deal would be a no-go.

There’s also Casey Mittelstadt, whom the Bruins acquired in the Charlie Coyle trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Mittelstadt has a $5.75 million cap hit and could go a long way toward opening up some cap space.

However, Mittelstadt was traded from the Sabres to the Avalanche for Byram. That situation makes it unlikely that the Sabres will take Mittelstadt back at this point. While it’s a possibility, it doesn’t seem likely.

Buffalo Doesn’t Have Much of a Choice

Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams has openly said he would match any offer sheet on Byram. That’s a bold statement, but it may be a foolish one if Byram doesn’t want to be in Buffalo.

If the Sabres take the compensation for Byram, they will get a number of draft picks. The Sabres, though, have stated they want to compete for a playoff spot this upcoming season. That’s why draft picks wouldn’t make the most sense.

Perhaps the Sabres could be enticed to take the draft picks if it could allow them to land other players. In the meantime, if the Bruins threw a solid prospect and a first-round pick their way, the Sabres could be compelled to pull the trigger.