The Colorado Avalanche quietly moved defenseman Bowen Byram to injured reserve, a development confirmed by Coach Jared Bednar after their recent 8-4 loss to the Panthers. Byram’s lower-body injury, although not deemed severe, is expected to sideline him for a duration of seven to 14 days, as reported by DNVR Sports’ Meghan Angley.
Selected as the fourth overall pick in 2019, Byram had a breakthrough season last year, contributing ten goals, 14 assists, 24 points, and earning a +7 rating in 42 games. Despite facing a lower-body injury that kept him out for over three months in the first half of the previous campaign, Byram secured a two-year, $7.7 million deal in restricted free agency last summer.
This season marked the first time since turning pro in 2020 that Byram enjoyed an extended period of health, participating in every game until missing the recent match against Florida. Although his offensive production has dipped with 12 points in 39 games compared to last season, Byram has shown defensive improvement. Hockey Reference data indicates a decrease in expected goals against per game at even strength, dropping from 0.85 xGA per game last season to 0.76 this season while logging 18:22 per game at 5-on-5 or 4-on-4.
While the assurance that his absence won’t be prolonged is comforting, it represents another setback for a young player whose development has been significantly hindered by injuries. Despite setbacks, the 22-year-old appears on track to establish himself as a solid second-pairing defender in the NHL, although the prospect of reaching his top-pairing potential is gradually diminishing. NHL Injury Viz data indicates that Byram has missed 126 regular-season games due to illness or injury over his first four seasons.
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