The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a two-year contract extension on Saturday afternoon.
Byram, 22, collected 10 goals and 24 points while averaging 21:53 in 42 games with the Avalanche during the 2022–23 regular season.
The 6-foot-1 defender, who shoots left, added three assists while averaging 21:55 in seven games with the Avalanche during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Byram’s new contract carries a cap hit of $3.85M, representing a significant pay increase from the $894,167 he earned annually on his entry-level deal with the Avs.
As Frank Seravalli noted on Twitter, the Avalanche avoided any potential offer sheet by locking Byram down on Saturday. The Cranbrook product will be eligible to become an RFA with arbitration rights in 2025.
The Avalanche originally selected Byram with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, using a draft pick they acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the infamous Matt Duchene trade.
Byram made his NHL debut with the Avalanche during the 2020–21 season, picking up two assists in 19 games. He emerged as an NHL regular with the club the following year and collected nine assists while finishing a league-best plus-15 in 20 games during Colorado’s run to the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Through parts of three seasons with the Avalanche, Byram has collected 15 goals and 43 points in 91 games. The former Vancouver Giants standout has also appeared in 27 playoff games during his career, amassing 12 assists and earning a Stanley Cup ring with the Avalanche in 2022.
The Avalanche have been active on this year’s UFA frenzy day, signing forward Miles Wood to a six-year deal and giving Jonathan Drouin a one-year contract to reunite him with Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado also acquired forwards Ryan Johansen and Ross Colton in recent days.
Byram will continue to compete for playing time as part of a strong Avalanche defensive group that also includes Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Josh Manson, Devon Toews, and Kurtis MacDermid.
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