The 2019 fourth-overall pick took a short-term deal with the Avalanche.
The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a two-year contract extension on Saturday, which carries a $3.85M cap hit.
While all of our designated RFAs from the Top-50 Free Agents are receiving a projection article for their upcoming contract, Byram signed his deal before the projection was released. So instead, we’ll take a look at comparable contracts to evaluate how the deal looks for the Avalanche, and whether it carries fair value.
Player Overview
Selected fourth overall in 2019, Byram has already emerged as a key part of the Colorado’s top-notch blue line.
After returning to junior for one more year with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants after being selected, Byram made the jump to professional hockey for the shortened 2021 season, joining the Avalanche roster at just 19 years old. However, it didn’t go quite according to plan, as Byram spent a significant chunk of the year dealing with concussion symptoms, which limited hm to just 19 games.
Then in the following season, Byram once again dealt with concussion issues, getting into only 30 games. However, the defenseman made his way back into the lineup and returned in time for the postseason. With Samuel Girard injured, Byram got a good opportunity and played in all 20 of the team’s postseason games, on route to a Stanley Cup win.
Byram missed significant time this past season as well, with a lower-body injury forcing him to the sidelines. When he did play though, he was great, scoring 10 goals and 24 points in 42 games while averaging nearly 22 minutes per game in ice time.
Still only 22 years old, Byram has the makings of an star defender. He’s an excellent skater with high-end puck control who can drive the play, but is also capable defensively for a player his age.
What We Know
- Frank Seravalli noted there was concern about an offer sheet for Byram.
Comparables
Below, we’ll take a look at contracts at different lengths for defensemen with around the same NHL experience and stats, to analyze Byram’s deal.
Note: The comparables used are defensemen who signed their contract at a similar age. All ages listed are related to how old the player was by Dec. 31 in the first year of their contract.
6-8 Years
Few players at Byram’s age signed long-term deals after such a small sample size of games played, right off their entry-level contact. As a result, it’s not surprising at all to see Byram go short-term instead, but some of the comparables are below.
8 YEARS
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| Thomas Chabot | 23 | 2020 | 64 (70GP) | 49 (134GP) | 24:17 | 20:58 | $8.00M 8 years | $8.20M 8 years |
| Mike Matheson | 24 | 2018 | 17 (81GP) | 17 (84GP) | 21:03 | 20:56 | $4.88M 8 years | $5.13M 8 years |
| *Mikey Anderson | 24 | 2023 | 19 (55GP) | 16 (172GP) | 21:49 | 20:55 | $4.13M 8 years | $4.13M 8 years |
On an eight-year deal, Byram would’ve been somewhere between Mike Matheson’s $5.13M adjusted cap hit and Thomas Chabot’s $8.20M adjusted cap hit, but that’s as much as we can tell.
7 YEARS
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| **Adam Fox | 24 | 2022 | 72 (64GP) | 60 (134GP) | 24:39 | 21:39 | $9.50M 7 years | $9.62M 7 years |
| Jaccob Slavin | 24 | 2018 | 34 (82GP) | 31 (145GP) | 23:26 | 22:22 | $5.30M 7 years | $5.57M 7 years |
| Shea Theodore | 23 | 2018 | 39 (61GP) | 33 (114GP) | 20:21 | 19:14 | $5.20M 7 years | $5.46M 7 years |
| Samuel Girard | 22 | 2020 | 27 (82GP) | 26 (155GP) | 19:54 | 18:50 | $5.00M 7 years | $5.12M 7 years |
| Oscar Klefbom | 23 | 2016 | 27 (60GP) | 24 (77GP) | 22:00 | 20:38 | $4.17M 7 years | $4.77M 7 years |
| Mattias Samuelson | 23 | 2023 | 20 (42GP) | 18 (54GP) | 20:00 | 19:33 | $4.28M 7 years | $4.28M 7 years |
A seven-year deal would’ve put Byram a little ways above Jaccob Slavin’s $5.57M adjusted cap hit, but far, far below Fox’s cap hit.
6 YEARS
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| Cale Makar | 23 | 2021 | 82 (44GP) | 76 (101GP) | 24:19 | 22:27 | $9.00M 6 years | $9.22M 6 years |
| Quinn Hughes | 22 | 2021 | 60 (56GP) | 62 (129GP) | 22:48 | 22:08 | $7.85M 6 years | $8.04M 6 years |
| Dougie Hamilton | 22 | 2015 | 48 (72GP) | 38 (178GP) | 21:20 | 19:32 | $5.75M 6 years | $6.72M 6 years |
| Brady Skjei | 24 | 2018 | 25 (82GP) | 31 (169GP) | 21:02 | 19:12 | $5.25M 6 years | $5.51M 6 years |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 24 | 2017 | 42 (76GP) | 49 (142GP) | 19:36 | 19:43 | $4.50M 6 years | $5.01M 6 years |
| Jakob Chychrun | 21 | 2019 | 23 (50GP) | 24 (118GP) | 20:15 | 18:11 | $4.60M 6 years | $4.71M 6 years |
| Rasmus Andersson | 24 | 2020 | 26 (70GP) | 21 (160GP) | 19:56 | 17:43 | $4.55M 6 years | $4.66M 6 years |
| John Marino | 24 | 2021 | 21 (52GP) | 30 (108GP) | 20:44 | 20:29 | $4.40M 6 years | $4.51M 6 years |
| Brett Pesce | 24 | 2018 | 20 (82GP) | 20 (151GP) | 21:12 | 20:05 | $4.03M 6 years | $4.13M 6 years |
Dougie Hamilton acts as a near perfect comp for a six-year deal based on production and ice time, but Byram would’ve likely still come in a little below $6.7M adjusted cap hit, based on the lack of games played.
Looking at most comps, very few signed a deal with less than 100 games played and those who did were on the lower end of the payment range.
From a team’s perspective, it would’ve been difficult to commit to Byram long-term based on the injury history, unless theyy were getting a great deal. From Byram’s perspective, if he can stay healthy and maintain or increase his production, he’ll be due for a larger deal later. As a result, a long-term deal was never likely.
If a player doesn’t go long-term, then we’d expect to see a bridge deal. The number of defenders who sign four or five-year term deals at Byram’s age is incredibly small, because it would basically walk them right to free agency, or put them a year out, where arbitration could leave them on a one-year deal, set to become a UFA afterwards.
As a result, we’ll look at how Byram’s deal compares to other bridge deals.
3 YEARS
Looking at possible three-year deals, Byram would’ve came in near the top of the projected range.
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| Charlie McAvoy | 22 | 2019 | 43 (54GP) | 42 (117GP) | 22:10 | 22:10 | $4.90M 3 years | $5.02M 3 years |
| Noah Dobson | 22 | 2022 | 52 (80GP) | 37 (160GP) | 21:28 | 18:16 | $4.00M 3 years | $4.05M 3 years |
| Will Butcher | 24 | 2019 | 32 (78GP) | 38 (159GP) | 19:16 | 17:38 | $3.73M 3 years | $3.82M 3 years |
| Jared Spurgeon | 24 | 2013 | 32 (39GP) | 25 (162GP) | 21:33 | 19:27 | $2.67M 3 years | $3.47M 3 years |
| Erik Cernak | 23 | 2020 | 15 (67GP) | 18 (125GP) | 18:57 | 19:05 | $2.95M 3 years | $3.20M 3 years |
| Ryan Lindgren | 23 | 2021 | 26 (51GP) | 21 (116GP) | 20:00 | 17:59 | $3.00M 3 years | $3.07M 3 years |
| Adam Boqvist | 22 | 2022 | 35 (52GP) | 33 (128GP) | 17:03 | 16:46 | $2.60M 3 years | $2.63M 3 years |
| Philippe Myers | 23 | 2020 | 26 (50GP) | 21 (71GP) | 17:06 | 16:36 | $2.55M 3 years | $2.61M 3 years |
| Henri Jokiharju | 22 | 2021 | 14 (46GP) | 19 (153GP) | 18:23 | 18:00 | $2.50M 3 years | $2.56M 3 years |
| Alexander Romanov | 22 | 2022 | 13 (79GP) | 12 (133GP) | 20:24 | 19:07 | $2.50M 3 years | $2.53M 3 years |
| Jake Bean | 23 | 2021 | 23 (42GP) | 22 (44GP) | 14:32 | 14:16 | $2.33M 3 years | $2.39M 3 years |
Byram had both more ice time and better production than every player other than McAvoy and Dobson.
With McAvoy, Byram had the better signing year production, but McAvoy had better career production, and much more career ice time. As a result, Byram was likely coming in below McAvoy’s $5M adjusted cap hit.
However, there’s an argument that Dobson’s $4.05M adjusted cap hit was a realistic projection for Byram on a three-year deal. Dobson did have better signing year production, but the players’ career production, along with signing year ice time was very similar, and Byram had the better career average ice time.
2 YEARS
Two years is always the most likely bridge deal for defensemen off their ELC, with comps below.
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| Nick Leddy | 22 | 2013 | 31 (48GP) | 29 (176GP) | 17:25 | 18:47 | $2.70M 2 years | $3.51M 2 years |
| Jacob Trouba | 22 | 2016 | 22 (81GP) | 28 (211GP) | 19:19 | 18:54 | $3.00M 2 years | $3.43M 2 years |
| Darnell Nurse | 23 | 2018 | 26 (82GP) | 20 (197GP) | 22:15 | 20:19 | $3.20M 2 years | $3.36M 2 years |
| Travis Sanheim | 23 | 2019 | 35 (82GP) | 28 (131GP) | 19:34 | 18:04 | $3.25M 2 years | $3.33M 2 years |
| Josh Morrissey | 23 | 2018 | 26 (81GP) | 23 (164GP) | 20:27 | 19:57 | $3.15M 2 years | $3.31M 2 years |
| *Ryan Murray | 23 | 2016 | 25 (56GP) | 25 (134GP) | 22:31 | 20:54 | $2.83M 2 years | $3.24M 2 years |
| Cody Ceci | 23 | 2016 | 28 (75GP) | 22 (205GP) | 19:18 | 18:48 | $2.80M 2 years | $3.20M 2 years |
| Matt Dumba | 22 | 2016 | 26 (81GP) | 24 (152GP) | 16:50 | 15:46 | $2.55M 2 years | $2.92M 2 years |
| T.J. Brodie | 23 | 2013 | 24 (47GP) | 22 (104GP) | 20:13 | 18:09 | $2.13M 2 years | $2.76M 2 years |
| Dante Fabbro | 23 | 2021 | 25 (40GP) | 18 (108GP) | 19:19 | 18:54 | $2.40M 2 years | $2.46M 2 years |
| Esa Lindell | 23 | 2017 | 20 (73GP) | 19 (77GP) | 21:52 | 21:28 | $2.20M 2 years | $2.45M 2 years |
Looking at the comparables though, Byram arguably had more value than every player listed. He had better signing year production and better career production than every single player. His ice time both over his signing year and career were also higher than every defensemen other than Darnell Nurse, Ryan Murray and Esa Lindell.
So considering the adjusted cap hits from the comps only go to $3.5M, it’s easy to see why Byram got higher. It’s difficult to say how high his cap hit could have reasonably gone, given there aren’t really two-year comparables for players at his age and stats. But $3.85M seems reasonable, based on Byram’s numbers compared to the comps above.
1 YEAR
Especially given Byram’s injury history, a one-year deal was possible. That said, these are rarely seen from defensemen coming off their entry-level contract with Byram’s age and production.
| Player | Age | First Year of Contract | Signing Year P/82 | Career P/82 | TOI Season | Career TOI | Contract | On $83.5M Cap Hit |
| Bowen Byram | 22 | 2023 | 47 (42GP) | 39 (91GP) | 21:53 | 19:57 | ||
| Justin Schultz | 24 | 2014 | 37 (74GP) | 40 (122GP) | 23:21 | 22:36 | $3.68M 1 year | $4.45M 1 year |
| Vince Dunn | 24 | 2020 | 27 (71GP) | 30 (224GP) | 16:16 | 17:02 | $1.88M 1 year | $1.93M 1 year |
| Torey Krug | 23 | 2014 | 42 (79GP) | 42 (82GP) | 17:31 | 17:29 | $1.40M 1 year | $1.68M 1 year |
| Mikey Anderson | 23 | 2022 | 12 (51GP) | 14 (117GP) | 20:07 | 20:30 | $1.00M 1 year | $1.01m 1 year |
If he was taking a one-year deal, Byram was probably getting a pretty low cap hit. Most of the one-year deals for defensemen his age came in quite low, under $2M. While he’d be above that mark, likely between Schultz and Dunn’s cap hits (based on career production and ice time), he wouldn’t have reached $3.85M.
Two years gives the Avalanche a bit of extra term, while Byram gets good pay for two years and gets closer to his his UFA years.
Final Analysis
A bridge deal is pretty standard for a defenseman coming off their entry-level contract, with two years being the usual term. The other option would’ve been a long-term extension, which likely would’ve meant Colorado committing to more than a $6M cap hit.
His $3.85M cap hit on a two-year deal comes in above comparables, but rightfully so, given his numbers do as well.
A short-term deal makes sense for both sides, as the Avalanche likely wouldn’t have been willing to offer a high cap hit on a long-term deal yet, given the limited sample size. For Byram, it’ll also allow him two more years to set himself up for a much larger contract down the road.
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