Sabres’ Bowen Byram fined $5,000 for interference on Sens’ Angus Crookshank

The National Hockey League (NHL) Department of Player Safety announced Thursday that Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram has been fined $5,000 the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement for interference on Ottawa Senators forward Angus Crookshank.

The incident took place in the final five minutes of the first period while Ottawa was up 4-0, Byram caught Crookshank with a big shoulder hit laying Crookshank out. Crookshank was down on the ice in discomfort and struggled to get to his feet, he was led to the locker room by teammates and medical staff. There was no update from the Senators’ staff on his status.

Byram was acquired by the Sabres from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2024 Trade Deadline in exchange for Casey Mittlestadt. The 22-year-old has got off to a terrific start with the Sabres notching three goals and six points through his first 10 games with the club. Byram had 20 points in 55 games with Colorado prior to the trade. The Cranbrook, British Columbia product was selected No. 4 overall by the Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft and throughout his time in Colorado, Byram registered 23 goals, 40 assists for 63 points in 146 games, Byram captured the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

Crookshank has appeared in 10 games with the Senators this season registering two goals and an assist. The 2018 fifth-round pick scored his first NHL goal on Dec. 30 against the Arizona Coyotes. Crookshank has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Sens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Belleville Senators.