Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) grabs Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) in front of goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday ...

Bowen Byram earned a spot on the top defense pair by proving to Lindy Ruff that he can handle the immense responsibility of working with Rasmus Dahlin to stop the best forwards in the NHL.