Bowen Byram won’t have much time to enjoy his new contract

When the Chicago Blackhawks traded for Bowen Byram, the plan wasn’t to give him a chance to develop and find his potential. The plan was for him to instantly step into the role as the team’s number-one blueliner.

That idea became clear when the Blackhawks signed Byram to a six-year, $75 million extension.

And because the plan is for Byram to become the organization’s undisputed top defenseman, he won’t have the luxury of settling into his new contract. The expectation will be for Byram to hit the ground running.

It won’t be a matter of seeing if things work out. They have to. That’s why the Blackhawks are paying Byram to be “the guy” in a way that Seth Jones just wasn’t.

While it’s true that Chicago might not really contend for a playoff spot, the plan is for Byram to help the organization take the next step in its rebuild. Even if the postseason really isn’t within reach, the 25-year-old needs to show that he’s ready for prime time.

Byram getting the opportunity he wasn’t going to get in Buffalo

The major narrative surrounding Bowen Byram in Buffalo was his desire to show he’s capable of being a number-one guy. However, that wasn’t really going to happen with the Sabres. The club has captain Rasmus Dahlin firmly entrenched as its top defenseman.

That situation created plenty of uncertainty for Byram in Buffalo. It was either becoming content with playing second fiddle or finding an opportunity elsewhere. The latter became the best path forward.

The Blackhawks saw that opportunity and acted. While it cost Chicago the fourth-overall pick in this year’s draft, it didn’t really matter. Keeping the pick and taking a top defensive prospect would have extended the timeline for a number defenseman by several seasons.

However, the pressure is on Kyle Davidson to begin showing results. The last thing Blackhawks fans want is for their beloved team to turn into a mess, much like the Detroit Red Wings have become.

That’s why the pressure is on for Byram. Yes, Blackhawks fans should be forgiving to a certain extent. But if Bowen Byram can’t prove he’s a legit top-pairing defenseman from the get-go, questions will emerge.

Byram has to work out in Chicago. For the sake of the team and the future of the rebuild, Byram has to be the guy the organization needs. The best part of this entire conversation is that the Blackhawks' top blueliner is motivated to show that the Blackhawks made the right choice.

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