As summer progresses, several NHL teams still have unresolved matters, and Buffalo is one of them. The Sabres are struggling to move defensive star Bowen Byram, and their current lineup offers little confidence in securing a playoff spot.
Where could Byram be traded? Previous discussions have explored various possible trade partners for the Sabres, and this analysis focuses on a potential trade connection with the Anaheim Ducks.
Team: Anaheim Ducks
Cap space: $28.9 million
Free Agents: Lukas Dottal (G, RFA), Mason McTavish (LW, RFA), Sam Colangelo (RW, RFA), Brock McGinn (RW), Robbbribbrates (C)
Needs: The Ducks require stronger defensive depth and improved scoring; they finished last season with the league’s worst power play (11.8% efficiency) and near-bottom penalty kill (74.2%). They are also adjusting to coach Joel Quenneville’s system.
The Ducks ended the 2024-25 season sixth in the weak Pacific Division, trailing the wild card battle by 10 points. Anaheim is focused on rebuilding its talent base, but like Buffalo, its management covets similar asset types, complicating Sabres GM Kevyn Adams’ quest for suitable Ducks players in a trade.
Adams knows that trading key players could yield substantial returns, especially the 24-year-old Byram, who commands a big raise from last year’s $3.85 million salary. The pressing question is whether Byram will continue in Anaheim or move elsewhere.
Buffalo’s roster has seen significant changes, making fans anxious about Byram’s future as an RFA defender. If little else changes before the season, the current roster might look much the same as early July.
Attention has turned to Duck GM Pat Verbeek, who started free agency cautiously but has since signed veteran center Mikael Granlund and traded winger Chris Kreider, signaling Anaheim’s playoff ambitions.
Trading Byram seems key to the Sabres’ strategy. While Adams holds on to Byram tightly, it might be time to part ways. Sending Byram to Anaheim could bring back promising players like Mason McTavish, a 22-year-old winger who scored 22 goals in 52 games last season and earned about $894,167. This is a bargain that won’t last long, and if Anaheim isn’t fully committed to McTavish, Buffalo would eagerly acquire him.
Recently, Byram was chosen for salary arbitration, preventing other NHL clubs from using offer sheets on him, but the lack of a scheduled hearing could push Adams toward making a trade to maximize return.
The Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks have recently added experienced defensemen, focusing on veterans, potentially allowing the Ducks to exchange them for future assets if they’re out of contention at trade deadline. However, Anaheim’s long-term plan seems to involve nurturing younger talents rather than selling off veterans prematurely.
If Verbeek proceeds with trading Byram, the Ducks could secure key defensive assets for the next decade, even if it takes some time for Anaheim to become a true Stanley Cup contender.
Fan Take: This potential Byram-McTavish trade highlights a pivotal moment for both Buffalo and Anaheim, emphasizing the strategic rebuilding efforts in the NHL. Fans should watch closely, as these moves could reshape team dynamics and impact the balance of power in the league for years to come.
