Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram
agrees to a $75 million, 6-year extension
[July 02, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram has agreed
to a $75 million, six-year contract extension with his new team.
The deal was announced Wednesday, the first day that Byram was
eligible to sign an extension. It runs through the 2032-33 season
and would make him the NHL’s highest paid defenseman with an average
annual salary of $12.5 million — surpassing Pittsburgh's Erik
Karlsson ($11.5 million).
The deal was announced Wednesday, the first day that Byram was
eligible to sign an extension. It runs through the 2032-33 season.
The 25-year-old Byram was acquired in a trade with Buffalo on June
23. The Blackhawks sent the No. 4 and No. 45 selections in the NHL
draft and defenseman Louis Crevier to the Sabres for Byram and
forward Jordan Greenway.
It has been a very busy summer for Byram, who got married last
weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Blackhawks are counting on Byram to take over as their No. 1
defenseman — and they paid him accordingly.
“The traits that Bo possesses are, in our opinion, elite ones,”
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told reporters at the
team's practice facility. "They're ones that are in high, high
demand around the league, and they are ones that we believe, when
put in the position that we're going to put him in this year, demand
a significant reward in compensation.
“That's something we believe he's going to step into, he's going to
own it, he's going to prove it and be worth the investment we're
placing in him.”
Byram, who has never been the top defenseman on his NHL team, thinks
he is ready for the job.
“They've showed a lot of faith in me, and they've given up a lot and
committed to me in many, many ways,” Byram said. “Now the ball's in
my court to perform, so I'm excited for that opportunity. I'm
excited for that challenge.”
The Blackhawks also agreed to contracts with forward Cole Smith and
defenseman Ian Cole on the first day of NHL free agency. Smith
agreed to a $9 million, three-year deal, and Cole got a $4 million,
one-year contract.
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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) controls the puck
against Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) during Game 3
of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, April 23,
2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Byram’s father, Shawn, played for Chicago on Nov.
3, 1991, in the last of his five NHL games. The Blackhawks had a
chance to take Bowen Byram in the 2019 draft, but they opted for
Kirby Dach at No. 3, and Byram went to Colorado at No. 4.
Byram had 23 goals and 40 assists in 146 games over three-plus
seasons with Colorado before he was traded to Buffalo in March 2024
for Casey Mittelstadt. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
in 2022.
Byram had 11 goals and a career-high 42 points last season. He was
part of a strong group of defensemen who helped the Sabres to the
Atlantic Division title and the franchise’s first playoff appearance
since the 2010-11 season.
Smith, 30, had eight goals and four assists in 63 games for
Nashville and Vegas last season. He was traded from the Predators to
the Golden Knights in March.
Cole had three goals and 20 assists in 82 games for Utah last
season.
“In Ian Cole’s case, provides some really veteran presence and a
steadying influence on our young (defensemen),” Davidson said. “And
then Cole Smith provides a great deal of physicality, some size,
some speed, and both play special teams on the penalty kill.”
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