After betting big on him in a blockbuster trade last week, the Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly signed an extension with the young defender, Bowen Byram. Darren Dreger reported that it will be a six-year deal, in the price range of a $12.5 million average annual value. Let us discuss the latest massive contract extension that kicks in on July 1st of 2027.
An intriguing day ahead. The D market is wild. Toronto is “all-in” on Werenski. Carolina is still working on Carlson while considering Nikishin trade options. Plus, Chicago is eager to drop what is expected to be a 6 year deal on Bowen Byram at $12.5 mil per. Fun times.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2026
Bowen Byram Signs Massive Contract With Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have locked down a massive piece of their blueline with this contract extension. Considering Chicago gave up the fourth and 45th-overall picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft for him, this extension had to happen. Giving up the likes of Daxon Rudolph, who the Sabres drafted at fourth overall, for Byram was an interesting and bold move. Time will tell if that was the right move for Hawk general manager Kyle Davidson.
Byram Gets Larger Role as Blackhawks Look to Make Strides Next Season
The Blackhawks have been rebuilding for quite some time, and while Byram is an impressive defenceman, he likely will not be able to drive the team to Stanley Cup Playoff contention singlehandedly. However, this will likely move the team in the right direction. The question is whether moving such a high draft pick for a 25-year-old defender will end up being worth it. In any case, this is what Byram wanted, which he could not get with the Buffalo Sabres, which is to play a more prominent role on the team. Byram will undoubtedly get top-pairing minutes with the Hawks, as the team’s defence is still young and maturing.
Byram will manufacture more scoring from the blue line, can be a solid quarterback on the power play, and can be dangerous on rush and transition plays. In tandem with the likes of Connor Bedard, it could make the team a bit more powerful offensively. The next order of business will be to re-sign Bedard to a long-term extension. Expect the team to be busy as free agency continues.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
