The Detroit Red Wings still need to improve their positioning on the blue line, but there’s one player we can certainly remove from any potential trade proposal.
Bowen Byram.
Yes, this is the same Bowen Byram who hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and was later dealt to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt in 2023. Now 24, Byram is coming off a career-best campaign, having played in all 82 regular season games for the first time in his professional career—no small feat considering his prior injury history.
He tallied 38 points (7 goals, 31 assists), showcasing both durability and consistency. The previous season told a starkly different story: plagued by injuries, Byram was limited to just 18 games, during which he recorded nine points (3 goals, 6 assists).
Trading Bowen Byram makes absolutely no sense
While some in the media have speculated about the possibility of Buffalo sending Byram to Detroit, such a move appears highly improbable. Just over two weeks ago, the Sabres committed to Byram with a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $6.25 million.
It strains credulity to suggest that an organization would invest the better part of the offseason negotiating with one of its better players—only to offload him mere weeks later. One doesn’t need to be an expert to recognize the inconsistency in that logic.
Contrary to recent reports, Sabres are not in the midst of a rebuild—their future is here as we speak. While the franchise has weathered more than a decade of organizational instability, prolonged playoff droughts, and stretches of deeply disappointing play, the current roster reflects a team poised to compete, not merely develop.
At the forefront is Tage Thompson, who has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier power forwards—a rare blend of size, skill, and scoring touch. His ascent reached new heights this past offseason when he netted the game-winning goal for Team USA in the IIHF Men’s World Championship, securing the nation’s first gold medal in the tournament since 1933.
Thompson's heroics on the international stage only underscore what Sabres fans have come to realize: the pieces to their future have already been established.
We also can’t forget about Rasmus Dahlin, the 2018 first-overall pick who has matured into a complete defenseman with one of the most wicked shots in the league. Buffalo can build around this guy for the next decade or so.
As for the Red Wings, they too must be cautious not to overreact to swirling trade speculation. While a calculated move or two might strengthen the roster down the line, the foundation is already solid.
The real challenge lies not in acquiring more talent, but in cultivating chemistry, forging trust, and building a genuine sense of brotherhood within the locker room. These are the intangibles that elevate a good team into a great one.
Achieving a Stanley Cup is arguably the most demanding pursuit in professional sports—but if this group stays committed to the process and to one another, that goal may be closer than it appears.
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