Maple Leafs Miss Out on Trade Target as Sabres Reportedly Finalize New Deal

According to reports by Rick Daliwahl as well as Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo Sabres and Bowen Byram are closing in on a deal that will see the restricted free agent sign a two-year, $12.5-million extension.

It's a move that keeps the young and talented Byram in Buffalo to gather even more success before hitting the open market in two years.

The move comes after weeks of speculation about whether or not the Sabres were going to try and get a deal done, or end up trading his rights elsewhere.

Acquired by the Sabres in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, the trade has worked out in spades for Buffalo. Byram has exploded to be one of the brightest and most exciting defensemen in the league and is only going to improve.

Byram, 24 has 110 points in 246 games (33 goals, 77 assists) since being drafted 4th overall by the Avalanche in 2019.

It means the Maple Leafs are going to have to shift gears if they were thinking of adding Byram, though with his deal reported to only be that two-year pact, the Leafs still have the chance to add him in 2027.

Granted, Buffalo could sign him long-term to prevent him from walking to free agency but it seems like they are giving him the best chance to build his stock before teams make a huge push with a rising cap in their near future.

We know Toronto wants to make a splash, and while Byram would have been an incredibly big addition, they can still shift gears for another top blueliner if they want, with Dougie Hamilton and Erik Karlsson being linked in recent weeks.