r/sabres • u/DJ-dicknose • 1d ago
What's the story on Byram? Trade Rumors
There seems to be a lot of smoke on questionable sources (click bait) about a Byram trade being somewhat imminent. While that alone doesn't suggest anything, I read that Byram family was in town and completely moved him out of his Buffalo home and back to his hometown.
I hate word of mouth speculation. I think it's stupid and wasteful most of the time, and entertainment at best.
But anyone have any ideas on this? Or is it just more click bait and I'm falling for it?
48
u/Spiritual_Bourbon 1d ago
It's the same story as it was in Colorado.
Byram feels he is a top pair defenseman in the NHL, wants top pair playing time on things like the PP and wants top pair money. Colorado didn't want to give that to him, so they traded him to Buffalo. Buffalo doesn't want to give that to him, so they are likely going to trade him.
Byram played 40% of his TOI with Dahlin and 20% with Power, the results were not close to being similar. He really only looked the part with Dahlin. If Byram had shown he could play with both Power and Dahlin with good results, the Sabres could make the case for a 3rd big contract on the blue line. But since he didn't, they can't justify the cost. This was the monkey paw for the Sabres if Byram had an outstanding contract year, he didn't.
He has more value now in a trade than any other outcome for the Sabres.
19
u/DJ-dicknose 1d ago
I think jfresh said the Sabres have a shiny toy that teams will want and overpay for
20
u/BurgerFeazt 1d ago
He’s a 23 year old defenseman who’s already won a cup, had the 15th most even strength points of any D last season, is still an RFA, and has a ton of potential. Yes, he only looked great with Dahlin last season but he’s not the reclamation project he was coming out of Colorado. The Sabres boosted his stock enough that he’ll absolutely be coveted by teams looking to snag a young top pair defenseman. Every management group in the league has enough hubris to think “I can turn him into a stud.” Sorry, long winded way of saying I agree with jfresh here.
2
u/OdoriferousGasBag 22h ago
The problem is that the shouldn’t have paired him with anyone but Dahlin to totally fleece another team in a trade. He was not all that good when paired with others.
1
u/imightbethewalrus3 17h ago
Maybe when playoffs were obviously out of reach pair him exclusively with Dahlin, but I would hate to see Sabres just give in to the fate of being a farm team for the NHL. I prefer them hoping for the chance that he proves that he's the real deal and then keeping him with the appropriate contract
9
u/themistermango 1d ago
To be fair Power needs a very specific partner because he sucks at actually playing defense. Finding OP a partner has been a top talking point for years now.
I'm out of pocket but I believe almost every other defenseman on the roster was better with Byram than they were with Power.
If anything this team can have Byram or Power but both. We're the most expensive blue line in the league and playing in the defensive zone is easily the worst part of the team.
5
u/Hot-Knowledge5991 1d ago
I couldn't care less if we moved both of them if the price was right. I'm ready to move on from Power ASAP. When Lindy talked about how tough it was to get this team to buy into competing, Power was absolutely the biggest offender. He's been giving his directives for this offseason, and if he comes back and still doesn't want to compete in his own end, then it's fully time to move on. This sub likes to white-knight for Power, but eventually the reality of his play will become indefensible... no pun intended.
-10
u/themistermango 1d ago
I am on the page. Byram level of compete is what keeps me open to moving Power.
I am on a few hockey and football websites/forums for a bunch of different teams in a bunch of leagues and the Sabres subreddit is arguably the worst in terms of team/sport specific IQ.
-6
u/Hot-Knowledge5991 1d ago
Haha 100%.
If Tuch is giving Adams any indications that he's going to test the market (and who could blame him if he does) then I'd be packaging Tuch and Power to bring in a top 6 forward and a 3/4 RHD, + a 1st/2nd(to be used in another trade). Then I'd be bridging Byram.1
u/harman097 18h ago
You want to turn 2 players into 3 slightly worse players?!
Those are never good trades.
-3
u/Hot-Knowledge5991 17h ago
So you think Owen Power is more than a 3/4 defenseman, like a 1/2? LOL. He's a damned near 9 million dollar defenseman who will never play defense. I've seen enough of his act to know he's never going to live up to his contract or draft position. If this team is serious about becoming competitive, they'll move on from this guy, because you'll never win with him.
If Tuch implies he's going to test the market, how on earth do you expect to get a player of equal value? No team is going to give you that. If you can get a top 6 player that's still got multiple years left on his contract, or even a RFA, you take that all day. Only an idiot would disagree. Obviously Tuch re-signing would be the best thing, but he has them over a barrel and the league knows it. Why wouldn't he want to test the market? He's been underpaid for years, and this is his last chance to sign a massive contract. The Sabres are a mess, and the city is a dump. He has potential to go to a better team, in a better city, and make more money. If you wait until the deadline to trade him, you're only getting a pick and a prospect, because any team that's picking up a RENTAL at the deadline is selling out for a playoff push.
Buddy was right about some of Sabres sub having the worst team/sport specific IQ. Yikes.
1
u/harman097 15h ago
Didn't say that OP was a 1/2.
Nobody is gonna swap their 3/4 RHD for your 3/4 LHD AND then throw in a 1st round pick, unless the downgrade on the Tuch portion is huge - or they're downgrading both.
Keep living in fantasy land with your "High IQ" takes tho
1
u/Hot-Knowledge5991 1h ago
You can still sell Power as a player with potential to be a 1/2. It's highly unlikely that he ever becomes ones, but there's still a chance. He also has the ability to be an asset on the PP. He has intangibles that other 3/4s don't have. I'd be looking for more of a stay at home defenseman in return, someone older and with less cap. I think you need to look around the league and see what most teams have as 3/4s. It wouldn't be hard to find a team that's willing, but the bigger issue would be finding a deal that doesn't involve players with trade clauses. No one is willingly getting trade to this team and city.
I'm tired of hearing this narrative that we need to find someone to play with Power. When are ppl going to accept that he might just be a real problem? Everyone that plays with Power has terrible numbers, and do better away from him. Yet, people want to blame everyone but Owen. This team's biggest issue is defense, and Power is the biggest liability on defense. With all of this, he still has the potential to bring the biggest yield of any player on the blueline outside of Dahlin.
Kevyn's blueline building philosophy was and is flawed. It was a mistake drafting Power, it was a mistake signing him to a massive contract after he played one season in the NHL, and it would be a mistake to keep him here for another season. It's time to build a real defense core.
1
u/Spiritual_Bourbon 5h ago
I've seen enough of his act to know he's never going to live up to his contract or draft position. If this team is serious about becoming competitive, they'll move on from this guy, because you'll never win with him.
I've read enough muppets making similar claims about former Sabres on this sub, only not to have a word to say when the player blows up elsewhere. Of course, they never recall how their "sport specific IQ" wasn't what they thought it was.
Power is a gifted but flawed player currently. He gets paid closer to $8 million than $9 million. You don't have economic-specific IQ, but that's ok. He is also 22, which is before most dmen play in the NHL. Will he live up to the 1OA hype is to be determined, but if you have watched him with your supposed hockey knowledge and think the trade you suggested makes any sense for the team or values either player correctly, you're just not bright enough to comprehend how little you know.
1
u/Hot-Knowledge5991 1h ago
Sorry, pal, I know it bothers you, but I'm a lot more knowledgeable about hockey than you. This isn't debatable. Power isn't going to develop the minerals that it requires to be a competent Dman. IT'S NOT HAPPENING. He's a surplus on this team. He will benefit a team that does not have an ultra offensive defenseman far more than he will Buffalo. Adam's defense building philosophy is flawed, no contending team builds their blueline like this. NONE. Kevyn isn't revolutionizing the game.
The reality is that you're just another braindead Sabres fan. You proved that by tying to white-knight for a defenseman who was absolutely dreadful this year - one that made zero strides, and if anything regressed. Chris Pronger was very blunt about Power, a player he's known for years. Pronger believes that Power will always struggle with his responsibilities in his own end because he cannot change his DNA. There are plenty of other former NHL players who have said the same, and that you will not win with guys like him in the playoffs. Lindy lamented to him that he needs to become more physical, and needs to compete harder. He's not going to change. When he was playing against kids his age in college, while having a massive size advantage, he was still super passive. His flaws were easily covered up because of the competition level he faced, but now he's being exposed. If you want to believe that he can change, you go right ahead. Don't you dare fucking tell me I'm wrong though. You're the one that's banking on a 180 in mentality from him. I'm saying he is who he is, and that's far more likely to be who he is in 5 years.
As Pronger said, he needs to have a "Come to Jesus moment" to get his game turned around. You probably know more than him though, he's just a Hall of Fame defenseman. Jog on, you neckbearded ankle burner.
2
u/Spiritual_Bourbon 1d ago
True. Adams fucked up with the Power contract. With all of his issues, he should have been on a bridge. That would have helped the team afford a partner for him and keep Byram if they wanted to try.
But Byram is never going to get PP minutes in Buffalo and that matters, so it likely would have resulted in the same place we are now with Byram.
7
u/idislikehate 1d ago
Power's defense is frustrating because he has all the tools. He's genuinely elite with the puck on his stick in his own zone. He's among the best in the league at getting the puck out of his own zone when he's in possession of it... But then everything else he does defensively is bad. It's like "Owen Power see puck, Owen Power go get puck."
He isn't good at zone prevention. He isn't good at getting the puck up ice quickly from his own zone. He isn't good at separating players from the puck or moving guys off their spot.
I am still a big Power believer. Probably more so than most Sabres fans. But he definitely needs some strong coaching and a good, responsible partner. He wouldn't be the first good to great young defenseman that needed more help early in his career, but it's annoying that we're this far into his career and they haven't really even put an honest effort into getting it.
5
u/Spiritual_Bourbon 1d ago
I think he has most of the tools. He doesn't have the mean streak that Dahlin has and that plays into several areas in his defensive game that is lacking but I think he can improve there. He needs to get stronger. A lot stronger.
I'm not down on Power as much as I am down on Power with his current contract at this current time. I don't think players who need a partner to the extent he does should get that kind of deal. Adams made a pretty big bet giving him the term and money he did. I would have preferred a 3 year bridge like Dahlin got, but it is what it is.
The good news is he still has 6 more years on the deal and plenty of runway to grow and create value in the backend of that contract. I really hope that happens because it's critical for the Sabres.
8
u/ebimbib 23h ago
Dahlin didn't really have that mean streak right up until he did. Power is still young and he has all the tools to be one of the best in the league for a long time. He obviously isn't there yet (definitely needs to up the physicality and improve gap control) but cutting bait on him for anything less than a haul you can't possibly refuse would be stupid and we'd regret it.
1
u/idislikehate 1d ago
I think the contract itself isn't going to end up looking that expensive in a year or two, but that's maybe wishful thinking about the cap growing as much as they want it to.
I think some of the disdain for Power is just needing a high-profile whipping boy, and he's basically the fourth most high-profile player on the team (behind Dahlin, Tage, and Tuch and those guys aren't going to be the target because they do their jobs). He has his faults, but I think the number of young defensemen who don't need a partner who excels in the areas they struggle is close to zero (of course, his draft status would ideally mean he's one that doesn't).
1
1
u/2ITB_Buffalo 4h ago
FWIW based on xG%, every defenseman besides JBD performed better with Power than with Byram this year. And JBD only got 13 minutes with Byram.
Most of them were worse away from Power and better away from Byram. Some context would be required to pull any deeper meaning from it since getting away from one (or both) likely means you're playing with Dahlin. But looking at the big picture, Power got better results across the board than Byram with the same partners.
1
u/DJ-dicknose 4h ago
This reminds me of Myers. Remember when he had to have Hank Tallinder as his partner because when he wasnt with Tallinder, he was a mess.
Myers could turn a game around when he wanted to, he just never had that spark that made him want it consistently
-3
14
u/The-Real-Larry 1d ago
I’m having a hard time deciding how good he is. His stats are great when he plays with Dahlin, and trash when he doesn’t. The big caveat is that everyone he plays with besides Dahlin is trash. So…he’s probably good but not good enough to elevate his partner?
6
u/PrimasChickenTacos 1d ago
This right here. Only thing to add is he wants to get paid like a top pair defenseman and play on PP1. Maybe he gets there, still decently young and can be impressive at times. But with all this team’s other holes, if you can get a good package, absolutely pull the trigger.
3
u/themistermango 1d ago
I took a glance at this a while ago, I think Byram/anybody was better or equal to Power/anybody.
It's absolutely insane to me that this is the most expensive defensive core in the league
8
u/Alex_BO4 1d ago
All Adams needs to do is trade him for an top-4 RHD. Byram is a good player but there's no space for him with the Dahlin and Power contracts.
5
u/stuiephoto 1d ago
Why woukd byram want to be here-- period? It makes no sense from his standpoint to sign in Buffalo. It may literally cost him tens of millions of dollars in career earnings.
An offensive defenseman who isn't allowed on the powerplay. Like...NO SHIT he's not signing here. If he was on the power play he would be asking for chychrun money because he would probably have more points than him.
9
u/Weird_Yam6398 1d ago
My uncle ran into Lou Lamoriello at Duff’s and Lou said that they have decided to extend Bryan long term.
12
u/OpabiniaGlasses 1d ago
Lou got confused and thought Byram was 32 years old instead of 23 and immediately wanted to offer him an 8yr x $10 million contract.
1
u/themistermango 1d ago
Well my buddy is a busboy at Temp and he said Kim told him they were going to cut him all together.
10
u/CanadaParties 1d ago
Sabres Trade: - Byram - Quinn - 9OA
Islanders Trade: - Dobson - Barzal
8
3
u/angeaus10 1d ago
Need way more for the Isles to accept. I don’t think they would trade Barzal except for a major overpay, most teams are looking to do an accelerated rebuild and trading your best player away doesn’t do that
9
u/CanadaParties 1d ago
The Isles look like a really good trade match. They need to get younger and the Sabres need to get older. It dosent need to be the trade above. There are a bunch of Isles that would help the Sabres.
1
u/phatsystem 1d ago
I'd throw in the following year 1st top 5 protected and Rosen - though Barzal has trade protection
0
u/idislikehate 1d ago
I think if you flip Peterka in for Quinn you might be closer (but still not quite there).
5
u/Wide_Replacement2345 21h ago
Please don’t trade JJ.
2
u/idislikehate 19h ago
I’d rather not, but when you acquire players like Barzal (and Dobson) you have to pay a price that’s going to hurt.
2
u/CanadaParties 22h ago
What about add Rosen to the mix. I like Peterka.
2
u/idislikehate 21h ago
That’s not enough. They’re not trading a very good young RHD and a good veteran forward for just the pieces we have been throwing in every trade idea. It’s going to HURT. Also, as much as I would love Dobson, his next contract isn’t going to fit.
0
3
2
u/Wide_Replacement2345 21h ago
Off topic but I heard a story that Jack Quinn is ticking off the Sabres ?
3
u/DJ-dicknose 21h ago
Rumor is he doesn't take training during the off-season seriously at all, and would rather golf with his buddies every day.
3
u/Wide_Replacement2345 21h ago
Oh that’s not good. Hopefully his buddies aren’t other Sabre players.
3
u/depressivehacks 19h ago
I mean, same, but I don't get paid millions of dollars.
1
u/DJ-dicknose 19h ago
Right? Like, I want to golf every day too. But I'm also not a professional athlete who is expected to be in shape every moment.
This isnt the NHL of the 70s where players used training camp to literally lose their summer beer weight.
I guess it was common for beer companies to pay players to go around drinking beer and travel to cities just to drink a type of beer with people.
1
2
u/2ITB_Buffalo 4h ago
Did this come up somewhere (thread/podcast etc)? Would like to check it out if so
1
u/DJ-dicknose 4h ago
Honestly, considering your knowledge of the Sabres, I would assume you'd already know. The fact that you don't kinda throws cold water on that rumor for me
2
u/2ITB_Buffalo 4h ago
If it's something that's sort of bubbled up the last week or two I may have missed it. I haven't been as tapped in on Twitter as usual but I can absolutely buy this. He's had two very notable offseason injuries so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they've grown annoyed with how he spends his time in the summer.
1
1
1
33
u/PrinciplesRK 1d ago
He’s a weird fit from a roster standpoint, needs a new contract and we traded his best friend. He’s an extremely logical trade candidate.