Byram Talks Trade, Chat With Bedard, & Future Extension With Blackhawks

· Yahoo Sports

Less than 24 hours after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres, new Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram took questions from the media via Zoom on Wednesday afternoon. The 25-year-old shared his thoughts on several topics following the transaction, but not before he started the session by expressing his eagerness to join the Blackhawks organization.

Visit playerbros.org for more information.

“First off, I’m just super excited to end up in Chicago,” Byram said, after accidentally having his microphone on mute to begin the Zoom call (relatable). “It’s been one of my favorite teams growing up… it’s always felt like a place that I wanted to end up. I think it’s a very attractive place for me. I’ll get the opportunity to play [more] and do what I can to help the team improve and help the team win.”

Byram’s desire for a larger role, which he’ll receive immediately as the Blackhawks’ No. 1 defenseman next season, played a factor in why he became available for trade this summer. With the Sabres having Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson — three fellow left-handed defensemen — all signed on through the 2029-2030 campaign, the additional minutes Byram was seeking weren’t available for him in Western New York.

Another reason was Byram’s contract situation, with one year remaining on his current deal that carries a $6.25 million cap hit. Byram requires a new contract to avoid becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, and his camp is reportedly requesting around $10 million per year. Not only were the Sabres not in a position to give Byram a bigger role, but they also didn’t possess enough cap space for an extension at that price.

The Blackhawks, on the other hand, have an abundance of cap space to still work with moving forward in GM Kyle Davidson’s rebuild. Considering what Davidson gave up to Buffalo in return for Byram, he’ll surely be looking to iron out an extension as soon as he becomes eligible on Jul. 1.

While Byram mentioned there haven’t been any negotiations with Davidson yet, he certainly seemed interested in working with the Blackhawks in the near future on his next contract. In fact, he was emphatic about hopefully remaining in Chicago for the long term.

“There haven’t really been any [contract talks] yet, but I’m hoping we can get to that point. Chicago is a place I want to be for a long time. I plan on being in Chicago for a long time. I’m hoping when the time comes, we can work something out.”

Byram also spoke about the 2019 NHL Draft when the Blackhawks had the chance to select him with the third overall pick, but instead drafted Kirby Dach. He claimed that Chicago was where he ultimately hoped to land throughout the process, as his father, Shawn, spent time with the organization during his playing career. Byram wouldn’t have changed how it all worked out, but he called getting traded to the Blackhawks a “full-circle moment”.

“I feel like I’ve always wanted to be in Chicago.”

Phone Call With Bedard

Shortly before Byram’s media availability, NHL insider Frank Seravalli joined 104.3 The Score on Wednesday morning to share his opinion on the trade between the Blackhawks and Sabres. Seravalli brought up that Connor Bedard had already reached out to Byram to welcome him to Chicago and express his own excitement over the move.

Byram confirmed to the media that he and Bedard talked on the phone following the transaction. The two British Columbia natives have previously skated together during offseason training and were teammates for Team Canada at the 2024 World Championship.

“I’ve skated with [Connor] a few times in the summer in Vancouver. I played at the World Championships with him. He’s really the only guy on the team that I know, other than Burakovsky. I feel like I know Connor somewhat well. We just shared how excited we were with each other. Everyone knows how good he is. I’ll do my best to contribute to his success and the team’s success, however I can.”

Helping Young Defensemen Grow

One way Byram can help the Blackhawks become more successful is by taking on a leadership role among the team’s remarkably young defensive group. He’s now the second-oldest defenseman on the current roster, being eight days younger than Alex Vlasic, and finds himself as the most experienced player of the bunch.

Byram, who made his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche at only 19, is familiar with the struggles young defensemen like Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Kevin Korchinski have gone through after entering the league with high expectations as former first-round picks. He dealt with his own hurdles while still developing at that age and understands how stressful and challenging the transition to the highest level can be.

“You put the NHL on a pedestal for so long growing up, and then you get there, and it’s almost hard to believe that you’re there, and maybe hard to believe you can play there. I think a lot of it’s just confidence. I was very lucky to have some good leaders and teammates at the start of my career in Denver. Guys that helped me a ton, not only with hockey, but with life in general and being a good pro. Taking care of your body, working on your game, and things like that.”

The roles will now be reversed for Byram, as he will be the one the young defensemen lean on and look to for support, both on and off the ice. Becoming a reliable veteran presence and helping his fellow defenders through the ups and downs of the NHL will now be part of his job description.

“I don’t think I’ll necessarily try to change the world or anything when coming into the locker room. I’ll just be myself. I’m a vocal guy to begin with, and I don’t think that will stop in this situation.”

For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.

Follow us on X:

@chihockeynow, @JackBushman2

The post Byram Talks Trade, Chat With Bedard, & Future Extension With Blackhawks appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now.

Read full story at source