The Colorado Avalanche re-signed RFA defenceman Bowen Byram to a new contract. The deal runs for two years, expiring after the 2024-25 season. The deal pays Byram a total of $7.7 million, equating to an $3.85 million cap hit annually.
Bowen Byram is staying in Colorado after signing a 2-year deal. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/LJrfyJYJeP
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 1, 2023
RFA Bowen Byram Signs New Contract with Colorado Avalanche
In 91 career games, Byram posted 15 goals and 28 assists, good for 43 career points to date. Last season, he scored ten goals and 14 assists (24 total points) across 42 games. The defenceman, 22, first entered the league after being drafted in the first round, fourth overall, in the 2019 entry draft.
Byram posted a -0.3% relative Corsi percentage last year, below his average. In a career thus far plagued by injuries, Byram proves extremely effective when in the lineup. Concussion issues limited him across all three seasons to begin his young career.
In the postseason, though, Byram found a way to stay healthy and contribute 12 assists in 27 games. He played a significant role in the team’s 2022-23 Stanley Cup Championship, averaging 19:02 in icetime per night. Between the championship and steady regular season production when healthy, Byram fully earned this contract for himself.
What this Means for the Future
The Avalanche expected to award Byram more money on this next deal. In reality, his limited games played total due to injury history likely reduced what his cap hit could have been. Either way, though, this raise takes up more of the Avs’ cap space. In a season with plenty of tough decisions, choosing to retain Byram was still an easy decision.
Byram joins Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Josh Manson, Devon Toews and Kurtis MacDermid as defencemen signed for next year. They still have Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Arturri Lehkonen on offence too. While plenty of other forward spots need to be filled, the blue line maintains serious depth.
That depth on defence, and lack thereof on offence, could spur a trade before the season begins. This contract for Byram, though, indicates the team’s commitment to him. Another player may depart (between Girard, Manson or Toews), but certainly, Byram and Makar stand as long-term investments in Denver.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
