Mile High Pollster: Fans say the Avalanche likely can’t and won’t trade for Bo Byram

Bo Byram has earned himself a payday but it probably won’t come from Colorado.

It’s time for another Mile High Hockey pollster as we dive into some offseason topics and take a look at what’s left of the conference finals between Edmonton, Dallas, Florida, and Carolina. We will also discuss the likelihood (or unlikelihood) of the Avalanche returning the services of Bo Byram.

Bo Goes

The young man drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche back in 2019 has spent time away from Colorado, and during that time, he has likely earned himself an advantageous contract. It’s not beyond reason to think that Byram can ask for as much as 9M AAV on his next deal, and with that, the ever-selling Buffalo Sabres are entertaining offers from other squads.

It’s late May, and the Avalanche aren’t playing hockey anymore, so it’s the time of year to ask roster questions and begin to formulate the 2025-26 lineup. I think it’s safe to say Bo Byram won’t be a part of Colorado’s opening night roster. It would be nice to establish the competitive advantage on the back end, but the 9M AAV doesn’t feel like something the Avalanche can afford without swapping a defender. It seems that the majority of Avs fans agree.

Trending Up?

A lot will unfold between now and the end of the 2025-26 season, but it’s never too early to make predictions. I asked fans if they thought next season’s version of the Avalanche would win more games than this year’s team did. The vote went to ‘yes’ by a pretty substantial margin, so it’s nice to know that Avalanche fans remain optimistic.

Do You Believe In Miracles?

Last night, the Carolina Hurricanes finally won an Eastern Conference Finals game after dropping 15 straight while vying for a conference title. It felt like 0-16 was destined to be a reality, but the Hurricanes gutted it out in game four and, at a minimum, forced a game five back in the Sunshine State.

Could Carolina possibly stem the tide and come roaring back in the series? I’m sure the money will land in Florida, securing a chance at back-to-back titles, but fans in Carolina can dream! The vote is still live, so don’t forget to cast yours today! Early results suggest that most fans believe Florida will advance.

Sevens in the West

There have been two game sevens from the western side of this NHL playoff bracket, but both of them came in round one. Will we see another in this seemingly back-and-forth Western Conference Final between Edmonton and Dallas?

I hope so, because there’s nothing like a game seven, and one that earns a trip to the Stanley Cup Final is almost as good as it gets.