Restricted free agent defenseman had NHL career-high 24 points last season
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Bowen Byram signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 22-year-old defenseman, who was a restricted free agent, had NHL career highs in goals (10), assists (14) and points (24) in 42 regular-season games for the Avalanche last season, and had three assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Selected by Colorado in the first round (No. 4) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Byram has 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists) in 91 regular-season games and 12 assists in 27 playoff games. Byram won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
"Bo is a massive piece for us," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said. "He's one of the best young defenseman in the league. He's a big part of what we're trying to do and how we like to play. He drives things from the back end. He's got really good skill, and he's a really good, trusted defender. So it's a good day for the Avalanche to get Bo under [contract] for two years. Those aren't always the easiest, right? They're tough contracts to do, but I appreciate the work that (agent) Kevin Epp did on behalf of Bo and ultimately Bo agreeing today. That's a big piece."
The Avalanche also signed forwards Miles Wood (six years) and Jonathan Drouin (one years) on Saturday.
Wood, 27, had 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 76 regular-season games for the New Jersey Devils last season and two goals in eight playoff games. Selected by New Jersey in the fourth round (No. 100) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Wood has 148 points (78 goals, 70 assists) in 402 regular-season games and two goals in 13 playoff games.
Drouin, 28, had 29 points (two goals, 27 assists) in 58 games for the Montreal Canadiens last season. Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the No. 3 pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, Drouin has 281 points (77 goals, 204 assists) in 485 regular-season games for the Canadiens and Lightning and 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Colorado (51-24-7) won the Central Division last season but lost in seven games to the Seattle Kraken in the Western Conference First Round.
NHL.com independent correspondent Ryan Boulding contributed to this report
