Simply put, Bowen Byram is worth a lot.
But the Colorado Avalanche will have to quantify that in order to get the former fourth overall pick under contract and in training camp for the 2023-24 season. Ideally this contract would be the first order of business for the front office in an expected busy summer of transactions ahead to lock in a big piece of the salary cap puzzle. But these high-profile Restricted Free Agents usually linger uncomfortably into as late as September when hold-out anxiety starts to become a pressure point for both parties.
For starters the Avalanche have $637k less cap space to work with next season because Byram earned three well-deserved bonuses in the final year of his Entry Level Contract and that salary cap charge will carry over.