Blackhawks Sign Bowen Byram to Massive $75M Extension

Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a six-year, $75 million contract extension that carries a $12.5 million annual cap hit.

The deal will officially begin next summer, coming shortly after Chicago acquired Byram from the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster trade that sent the No. 4 overall pick in the NHL Draft the other way.

As part of the deal, Buffalo also received defenseman Louis Crevier and a future second-round pick, while the Blackhawks added forward Jordan Greenway in the multi-asset exchange. The Sabres ultimately used the fourth pick to select defenseman Daxon Rudolph.

With his new contract, Byram is now positioned to become Chicago’s highest-paid player beginning in 2027-28, surpassing Frank Nazar, who currently carries a $6.59 million cap hit. That status, however, may not last long, with Connor Bedard also approaching a major contract decision in the near future.

League-wide, Byram’s deal places him among the highest-paid defensemen in hockey, passing the $11 million cap hit previously held by Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin. However, with stars like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes now eligible for extensions, that top-end market for defensemen will continue to rise quickly.

Byram, 25, split time between Buffalo and Colorado in recent years but delivered a strong 2025-26 campaign, posting 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games while averaging 22:20 of ice time and finishing with a plus-15 rating.