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The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have signed their top pick from the 2019 NHL Draft to a three-year entry-level contract.
Our fourth-overall pick makes it official!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/EAbEQcmnQo
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 19, 2019
Though the team hasn’t confirmed the terms, he is likely to get the max $925,000 contract with bonuses. Due to his age, Byram is not AHL eligible so he will only be able to play in the NHL or WHL this coming season. If he goes back to the WHL before playing 10 games in the NHL, his contract will slide forward one season and not count toward the 50-man limit in the NHL. He is allowed to do this twice.
Byram is expected to play his nine games in the NHL before heading back to the Vancouver Giants of the WHL for his age-18 season. The Avalanche currently have a lot of depth at left defense on their roster right now, so odds are the Avalanche won’t rush their newest blue-chip prospect into the NHL. Unless he blows us all out of the water, of course.
Hey @Avalanche fans, get to know the #4 overall pick Bowen Byram! #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/rT0HTvM2nA
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 22, 2019
Bowen Byram volunteered to be first to jump.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 30, 2019
He might have regretted it #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/cz8NfpiEma
Bowen Byram in the shootout...#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/HpmPLVkFVX
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 29, 2019