Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Bo Byram elected not to take the Buffalo Sabres to arbitration, but according to Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman, the team is set to take the defenseman to arbitration.
An arbitrator can award Byram a one- or two-year contract, and Byram gets to decide the term of the award. He needs to play two more seasons before he gets to hit unrestricted free agency.
Byram can still be traded, or the two sides could agree to a contract before the hearing. There has been no announcement as to when the hearing is scheduled to take place.
The Sabres electing arbitration with Byram now means he’s no longer eligible to receive an offer sheet from another team around the NHL.
Meanwhile, newly acquired defenseman Conor Timmins did elected to go to arbitration.
Last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, the 26-year-old’s cap hit was $1.1 million.
Just because Timmins elected to go to arbitration doesn't mean he can't come to terms with the Sabres before his hearing, which hasn't been scheduled yet.
Timmins is slotted to take Connor Clifton’s spot at right defense on the third pair. Depending on what happens with Byram, Timmins will likely play with Mattias Samuelsson or Ryan Johnson.