The Buffalo Sabres have signed restricted free-agent defenseman Bowen Byram to a two-year, $12.5-million contract extension, as speculation continues about his future with the team.

The deal carries an average annual value of $6.25 million against the salary cap.

The 24-year-old defenseman is coming off his most productive season in the NHL, with 38 points (7 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games with a plus-11 rating. Byram averaged 22:42 in ice time per game. The fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft by Colorado, Byram has 110 points (33 goals, 77 assists) in 246 career games with the Avalanche and Sabres.

Byram had arbitration rights but elected not to use them. Instead, the Sabres decided earlier this month to take Byram to salary arbitration, which prohibited the defenseman from s

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