The Chicago Blackhawks sign defenseman Bowen Byrum to a six-year, $75 million contract with a cap hit of $12.5 million.
The extension will take effect next summer and comes on the heels of the Blackhawks acquiring Byram from the Buffalo Sabers last week in a deal that included the No. 4 overall pick in the draft going the other way.
As part of the deal, Buffalo also acquired third-year guard Louis Crevier and a second-round draft pick, while Chicago also acquired forward Jordan Greenway. Buffalo used the fourth overall pick to select blueliner Daxon Rudolph on Friday night.
Under the new contract in Chicago, Byram is currently set to become the Blackhawks’ highest-paid player in the 2027-28 season, with a cap hit nearly double that of next in line Frank Nazar at $6.59 million. However, Byram could be quickly passed over at the top as Connor Bedard hits restricted free agency on Wednesday.
Byram is currently expected to become the highest-paid NHL blueliner in the 2027-28 season, surpassing former teammate Rasmus Dahlin’s $11 million cap hit. Stars Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are now eligible for new contracts and could soon take the baton from Byram.
Byram, 25, scored 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games for the Sabers last season, averaging 22:20 of ice time and a plus-15 rating.
He added four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games, averaging 22:24 playing time, before his team was eliminated in the second round.
The 6-foot-1, left-handed blueliner is entering the final season of a two-year, $12.5 million contract that carries a cap hit of $6.25 million next season.
Byram was acquired by the Sabers from the Colorado Avalanche in March 2024 in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt.
Drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in 2019, Byram has 44 goals and 152 points in 328 career games split between the Avalanche and Sabres.
Byram also helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, recording nine assists in 20 games during the playoffs with a plus-15 rating and 19:22 average ice time.