The offseason and summer wouldn’t feel right without news of Bowen Byram’s trade rumors. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman still has one year left on his contract. Sabres might find his asking price excessive. Byram is constantly in trade rumors every summer, as he has become a high-value defenseman. This last season was the second year in a row that he played all 82 regular-season games. He also scored a career-high 42 points (11g/31a). But would it be worth it to bring him back to Colorado?

Reasons to trade for Byram

On March 6, 2026, Byram was traded in a one-for-one trade for Casey Mittelstadt. The center was slated to be the future of the second line for the Avs, and it did not pan out. Byram could come back to the Avs and fill a key role for them. He could eat up a ton of ice time, averaging over 22 minutes per game last season. Also, 10 of his 11 goals came on the power play. Colorado struggled on the power play last season, finishing ranked 27th in the NHL at 17.1 percent. Byram could help fuel the power play on the first or second unit. Colorado also has three free agents on defense and needs to fill the gaps; this could be a chance to do so. Byram is also familiar with head coach Jared Bednar’ systems from having played in Colorado from 2020–2024. Byram reportedly also asks for approximately $10 million AAV on his next contract. That alone could be something that scares the Avs off with the Cale Makar extension hovering over their heads.

Reasons not to trade for Byram

Reasons that the Avalanche would not trade for Byram would be the cost. It may cost them too much in draft capital (which they don’t have) or in players. Byram would come at a $6.25 million cap hit. The only players who could be moved around the same salary are Valeri Nichushkin, who has a 13-team no-trade list starting this coming season. Colorado might throw in a second-round and a third-round pick for next year, but that may be a little too expensive.

It would be a blast to see Byram back in an Avs sweater next season, but the cost may outweigh the benefits. He has become exactly what the Avs expected when they drafted him in 2019, but that makes him so valuable.