The Chicago Blackhawks moved fast on Bowen Byram, and for good reason.
After giving up the fourth and 45th overall picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, plus defenseman Louis Crevier, the Blackhawks made it clear that locking up Byram long term had to be next. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported yesterday evening that an agreement could come as soon as today, with the deal expected to come in above $10 million annually.
Now the specifics are coming into focus. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Byram is expected to sign a six-year, $75 million extension with Chicago, which carries a $12.5 million average annual value. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun quickly confirmed the report.
If that number holds, Byram’s deal would become the richest salary the Blackhawks have ever handed out beginning in the 2027-28 season. His $12.5 million figure would top the $10.5 million Chicago gave Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in 2014. Still, the cap picture is different now: Kane and Toews each took up 14.7% of the salary cap in the first year of their contracts, while Byram will account for roughly 11%.
The structure also lines up closely with another major Blackhawks commitment. When Chicago acquired Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021, it signed him that same day to an eight-year, $76 million contract.
The price tag is steep, but Byram’s track record helps explain why Chicago is willing to go there. Over the past two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, he put up 18 goals and 80 points in 164 games, finished with a plus-26 rating, and averaged 22:31 of ice time per night.
In both of those seasons, he would have led the Blackhawks in scoring among defensemen, even though he was playing behind others in Buffalo. With Chicago, he now projects as the clear top blue-line option, which should mean more even-strength minutes and more power-play usage.
Byram has shown stretches of solid two-way play, but his game is driven more by offense than defense. There were some issues on the defensive side with the Sabres, though he should still give the Blackhawks a boost in possession.
The new contract would also double his salary, and it would keep him in Chicago through age 32. Byram, who is still 25, would be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2032-33 season. Once this deal is signed, the Blackhawks will still have another major extension to sort out with franchise center Connor Bedard.
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