Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram to miss game against Sabres for family matter
The Chicago Blackhawks‘ big offseason addition will have to miss his first opportunity to face his former team.
On Saturday, Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill revealed that defenseman Bowen Byram will be out for Saturday’s road game against the Buffalo Sabres due to a family matter.
Chicago acquired Byram, along with forward Jordan Greenway, from Buffalo in June in exhange for the 2026 fourth overall pick, the 2026 45th overall pick, and defenseman Louis Crevier. The Sabres used the fourth overall pick to select University of Denver defenseman Daxon Rudolph, and sent the 45th overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in a trade for defenseman Olen Zellweger. Chicago promptly signed Bryam to a six-year, $75 million contract extension.
Byram, 25, has yet to record a point in two games played for the Blackhawks so far this season, while averaging a tick under 25 minutes of ice time.
With Buffalo last season, he had 11 goals and 31 assists for a career-best 42 points in all 82 regular season games, and then contributed four goals and three assists for seven points in the Sabres’ 13 playoff games.
Initially selected fourth overall out of the Western Hockey League (WHL) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Byram spent his first three-plus NHL seasons with the Avalanche. He played an important role during Colorado’s 2022 run to a Stanley Cup championship, putting up no goals, nine assists, and a +15 rating while averaging about 19 and a half minutes ice time in the Avalanche’s 20 playoff games that year.
In March of 2024, Colorado trade Byram to Buffalo in exchange for center Casey Mittelstadt. The Cranbrook, British Columbia native’s production took a an immediate leap with the Sabres, as he notched seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points in 2024-25, his first full season in Buffalo.
After Saturday’s game in Buffalo, the Blackhawks will play their home opener against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
