The St. Louis Blues are once again the center of offseason speculation, and this time it involves a potential offer sheet for Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. After clearing $4 million in cap space by waiving Nick Leddy, who was claimed by the San Jose Sharks, the Blues have put the rest of the league on notice.
General Manager Doug Armstrong has a history of being aggressive with offer sheets, successfully acquiring Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers last year using this tactic. Now, it seems he has his sights set on another promising young player in Byram.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong is no stranger to the offer sheet, and Bowen Byram could be his next target
According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, the Blues have been “trying hard” to land Byram. This isn’t just smoke; where there’s Armstrong, there’s fire. The Blues have the necessary draft capital to make a significant offer sheet, holding their first- and third-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. While they are without their second-round pick, they could still put together a compelling offer that would force the Sabres into a difficult decision.
The Blues currently have a crowded blue line with Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko, Broberg, Cam Fowler, Tyler Tucker, and Matthew Kessel all under contract, and they recently added Logan Mailloux in a trade. However, the potential to add a young, dynamic defenseman like Byram is too good to pass up. The team can create an additional $6.5 million in cap space by placing Torey Krug on long-term injured reserve, which gives them the financial flexibility to make a competitive offer.
What an offer sheet for Byram might look like.
The Sabres have publicly stated that they are prepared to match any offer sheet for Byram. General Manager Kevyn Adams has been strategic in his planning, anticipating this exact scenario. However, every team has its limits. If the Blues were to table an offer sheet with an average annual value that pushes the Sabres to their financial brink, it could force their hand.
Adams has also said that he is open to trading Byram for a package that improves the Sabres’ current roster, but he is not interested in futures. This could open the door for a sign-and-trade scenario if the Blues and Sabres can find common ground. One thing is for sure: the Bowen Byram situation is one to watch closely as the offseason continues to unfold.
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The post St. Louis Blues Eyeing Another Offer Sheet Heist, This Time for Bowen Byram appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
