Jarmo Kekalainen isn’t paid to be patient, and frankly, the Buffalo Sabres don’t have time for it either. Despite a recent seven-game winning streak that pushed them four games over .500, the reality of the Eastern Conference is brutal. Being “good enough” won’t cut it against playoff-hardened teams. The rumor mill has exploded following David Pagnotta’s revelation that Buffalo is looking to deepen their forward group—potentially at the expense of a young star defenseman. The question isn’t if a move happens, but who is the casualty: Owen Power or Bowen Byram?
As someone who has watched this Sabres core try to gel for years, the logic here is undeniable. You build from the net out, but you can’t win if you can’t score. The Sabres have created a logjam on the blue line that is as expensive as it is talented, and asset management dictates that something has to give.
The Cap Casualty: Why Power or Byram Must Go
The situation in Buffalo is a classic case of “too much of a good thing” in the wrong position. With Rasmus Dahlin locked in as the undeniable franchise cornerstone and Mattias Samuelsson providing grit, the redundancy falls on the offensive-leaning left side.
Let’s talk about Owen Power. Trading a former first-overall pick who is 23 years old feels like heresy in hockey circles. He is signed for five more years, offering the stability teams crave. However, looking at the numbers, you have to wonder about value. With an $8.35 million AAV, Power is being paid like a number-one defenseman, but he is currently logging the fourth-most ice time on the team. His production—3 goals and 10 assists in 35 games—is respectable, but is it $8 million respectable when you are desperate for goal-scoring up front?
Bowen Byram, on the other hand, represents the “easier” move. He has one year left at $6.25 million, making him a tantalizing rental-to-extension candidate for a contender. Ironically, Byram has outproduced Power recently (8 goals, 17 points) and plays with an edge that seems to fit playoff hockey slightly better.
Power vs. Byram: Who Fetches the Bigger Return?
If Kekalainen pulls the trigger, the return package changes drastically depending on which defender he moves.
Owen Power is the “Blockbuster” chip. Because he is signed for five more years, he offers cost certainty that GMs drool over. You don’t trade a 23-year-old with his pedigree for a rental or a “good” player. If Power moves, Buffalo should demand a bonafide, young, first-line superstar with term—a true “hockey trade” similar to the Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen swap years ago.
Bowen Byram is the “High-End Upgrade” chip. Because he has only one year left on his deal, the acquiring team takes on significant contract risk. While Byram might currently be playing better hockey, that lack of team control lowers his trade value. Moving him likely nets a very good top-six forward, but perhaps not the franchise-altering superstar that Power would command.
Finding the Right Return: What a Top-Six Trade Looks Like
The Sabres’ forward group is a mix of “almost there” and “aging out.” With Jason Zucker on an expiring deal and Alex Tuch’s future murky, the young guns like Zach Benson and Jack Quinn haven’t hit their consistent peaks yet.
If I’m Kekalainen, I am looking at teams who are desperate for defense and have a surplus of scoring wingers. The Sabres don’t need prospects; they need a proven top-six killer who can slot in next to Tage Thompson or Josh Norris and finish plays. Trading Byram clears cap space for a restructure; trading Power brings back a franchise-altering forward.
It is a gamble, but sitting still is the only guaranteed way to lose.
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The post Buffalo Sabres Trade Block Analysis: Owen Power vs. Bowen Byram appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
