The Right Fit: Can Olen Zellweger fill Bowen Byram's Shoes?
On June 23, 2026 the Buffalo Sabres traded 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, losing a key player in last year's historic playoff run. Just three days later, however, Buffalo traded forward Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick for Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks. Zellweger is positioned to fill the hole left by Byram’s departure, as a high-speed, puck moving, defenseman.
Byram was a beloved player in Buffalo both on and off the ice, and his trade left many wondering what the future of the Sabres defense would look like. He is a well-rounded and defensively-sound player with a great shot who can be played throughout the game. He can both quarterback a power play and be utilized on the penalty kill while playing over 20 minutes a game.
Originally drafted 34th overall to Anaheim in 2021, last season Zellweger set career highs playing 76 games and netting 22 points. He is earlier in his career than Byram but has already shown the ability to provide speed, possession, and offensive playmaking which will help bolster the Sabre's remaining defense. Currently, Zellweger is positioned to compete for a second-pair position where he would play alongside Owen Power, his former Team Canada teammate.
Statistical Comparison
Looking at game analytics from the 2025-26 season, Byram bests Zellweger in many of the categories. For key metrics like goals, assists, and points, Byram’s 11-31-42 stat line tops Zellweger’s 7-15-22. Zellweger does beat Byram when it comes to shots (119-109), penalties drawn (16-14) and hits taken (161-150), suggesting that he is actively trying to drive play, and likely has a higher ceiling than we have seen so far.
Zellweger has already shown glimpses of his potential throughout his three seasons in Anaheim. Last season with Zellweger on the ice at five-on-five the Ducks owned a 53.3 percent share of shot attempts. His speed also sets him apart, as he is one of the top-five defenseman with the most 20-plus mph speed bursts in the league.
Peer Group Comparison
The acquisition of Zellweger looks particularly good considering his relatively low cap-hit, compared to other players in his peer group. In the current environment, young players are increasingly requesting (and receiving) more money than ever before. Just over the offseason 27-year-old Cale Makar signed an 8-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche for a record breaking $20.4 million per year and 20-year-old Zeev Buium inked an 8-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks for $9.38 million per year, while last October Lane Hutson locked in an 8-year extension with the Montreal Canadiens for $8.85 million per year. Given this, a $3.1 million cap hit through the 2029 season for Zellweger is extremely respectable.
Looking at Zellweger compared to other defenseman in his cap-hit peer group (between $2.5 and 4.5 million) shows that he is towards the top of the pack in many key areas. Zellweger puts up 87.7% more goals, 61.9% more shots, and takes a staggering 152% more Individual High-Danger Chances. This demonstrates an impressive offensive instinct and will hopefully translate into more offensive success given the right opportunities.
Overall Takeaways
Zellweger is a very capable, offensive-defenseman who has significant potential to be a second pair defender. With a high offensive upside and strong puck-moving abilities, he hasn’t yet had the right opportunity to showcase his full skillset, given the limited minutes he played in Anaheim. While Byram is undoubtedly a talented and well-rounded player who was a key piece of Buffalo’s defense last season, if Zellweger is given the right chance to round out his game defensively with more playing time, he can grow into a formidable 2nd pair offensive-defenseman.
*Statistics and information for piece gathered/compiled by contributor Sean Morran.
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