Sabres Weekly: Byram Trade Rumors, NHL Draft This Week & More

Here are the Buffalo Sabres news, rumors and latest reports for June 22 – 28, 2026.

Bowen Byram Extension Talks Have Gone Nowhere

The Sabres and defenseman Bowen Byram have started discussing a potential contract extension, in which he is eligible to sign on July 1. Earlier last week, reports surfaced that the two sides had discussed an extension during the draft combine, and they did not go particularly well.

Byram, who has one more year left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent, has said himself that it’s not a money issue; it’s wanting to be a number-one defenseman on a contender. Byram is asking for around $10 million, and the Sabres are willing to give it to him, but what is holding him back is he is thinking about his future.

Does he think he has a chance to get an expanded role with an already loaded blue line? Between Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power and himself, he is looked at as the team’s third defenseman. However, with Power taking another step this season, could we see Byram’s role diminish if he stays? Well, Byram had a career season, being at a half-point per game, and he can be a number-one defenseman on a team.

Per insider Darren Dreger, teams started calling on Byram last week. The San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, and St. Louis Blues are all teams that have shown interest in the defenseman.

2026 NHL Entry Draft Takes Place This Week

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft takes place in Buffalo this week on June 26 and June 27. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first overall pick and are expected to select Gavin McKenna with it. The Sabres currently hold the 20th pick after trading the 27th overall pick and Michael Kesselring to the Sharks to move up in the draft.

Every year, we see a team or two take a risk on a player who might not be super high on most people’s draft boards, like in 2024, when the Ducks selected Beckett Sennecke third overall. We even see players fall in the draft because of size like Zach Benson, Cole Caufield, and Logan Stankoven. Will there be any surprising risers or fallers? We’ll see.

Sabres Have Circled Back On Alex Tuch Extension

With free agency a little over a week away, there has still yet to be a contract agreed upon between the Sabres and Alex Tuch. Per Dreger, the Sabres have circled back to see if an extension is possible before free agency begins on July 1.

Like a number of clubs, the @BuffaloSabres remain very active in trade scenarios. Byram is clearly a hot commodity. It’s also believed the Sabres have circled back on Alex Tuch to see if an extension is possible with Free Agency looming.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 22, 2026

Tuch, who is the biggest pending free agent, is 30 years old and has been a big part of the organization for the last five years since coming to Buffalo in the Jack Eichel trade. Both sides are working extensively on getting a deal done, but so far, no luck. We’ll see how this goes as we get closer to free agency next week.