Confirmed Trade: [CHI/BUF] Bowen Byram, Jordan Greenway for Louis Crevier, 2026 1st round pick (4th overall), 2026 2nd round pick (45th overall)

[qcal1427]

Has a player ever coasted off of 15 games as hard as Byram

 

[ijuka]

4th overall for 1 year of a player who will become UFA?

well, you better re-sign him for 8 years because if not, it's a historically awful trade. And after you sign him for 8 years with ridiculous overpay due to sunk cost fallacy, you better hope he won't proceed to mail it in and will actually be worth it.

 

[Matt Ress]

greed, narcisissom and celebrity worship rule this f'd up world!

On the other hand, it would just be a different filthy rich player or worse, a disgustingly rich billionaire taking/keeping that dough

 

[The don godfather]

If bowan puts up 50 points next season and plays solid I guess it's ok but man what a risk. This could be Davidson last year if this goes south in a hurry.

 

[AZ Caps Fan]

Chi = 2nd 5holed

 

[Jared Dunn]

Hard to imagine. When’s the last time a goalie returned that much value?

Closest would be 9 for Schneider I guess? But other moving parts i'd think. 4 + 20 + Lukkonen for Hellebuyck + 8

 

[The don godfather]

It’s better to get a guy who can actually play NHL hockey instead of rolling the dice in the draft. You could end up with a Levshunov or a Korchinski. Anyway we’ll have plenty more top 4 picks so it’s ok to skip a year

Very interesting that is true the pick could bust happens all the time kakko for rangers comes to the forefront.

 

[landy]

This will look good for the Hawks. Byram finally gets pp1 time and will put up 70+ points.

I don’t hate this for the Sabres because 4oa is legit, but they lose Tuch and Byram. They are already regressing.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

If bowan puts up 50 points next season and plays solid I guess it's ok but man what a risk. This could be Davidson last year if this goes south in a hurry.

God willing.

 

[rogking65]

Not at all...

Point was that if they kept #1 overall they take McDavid, he's probably still there and none of that trade tree you posted happens.

what are you trying to say? They never had the 1st that yr

 

[DatDude44]

This will look good for the Hawks. Byram finally gets pp1 time and will put up 70+ points.

I don’t hate this for the Sabres because 4oa is legit, but they lose Tuch and Byram. They are already regressing.

this allows them to resign Tuch tho

 

[unicornpig]

this isn't even for an extended byram. holy shit of an overpay

 

[Der Jaeger]

This will look good for the Hawks. Byram finally gets pp1 time and will put up 70+ points.

I don’t hate this for the Sabres because 4oa is legit, but they lose Tuch and Byram. They are already regressing.

Well, aside from having one of the youngest rosters in the league, with three extremely promising young centers, and now the opportunity to add Mallhotra or Bjorck, sure.

 

[La Bamba]

this isn't even for an extended byram. holy shit of an overpay

If Byram walks.... OOOOOOF

 

[The don godfather]

God willing.

Trievling did that Carlo trade and he was sent back to Boston pizza for employment. This sounds the same direction.

 

[landy]

this allows them to resign Tuch tho

I can’t imagine $1-2M was the difference here having nearly a year to re-sign. He would’ve signed a long time ago and they figure out the cap after the fact.

 

[PuckFegula]

4th overall for 1 year of a player who will become UFA?

well, you better re-sign him for 8 years because if not, it's a historically awful trade. And after you sign him for 8 years with ridiculous overpay due to sunk cost fallacy, you better hope he won't proceed to mail it in and will actually be worth it.

I don’t think Byram is the type to coast, I just don’t think he’ll sign in Chicago. Like- he wants to be a #1, respect for that. Do we really envision that happening? In Chicago? Next year?

His agent wants him going to UFA anyways, he’s known for that, and Byram can pick a prime spot where he gets paid and can compete for a cup.

Sad to see him go, looks good for Buffalo though.

 

[Chainshot]

Has a player ever coasted off of 15 games as hard as Byram

At 5-on-5 he produced points (30 was good for 21st among all defensemen last season, 33 the season before was good for 9th in the league). I can see the appeal to get the puck up the ice at five-on-five for Frondell and Bedard to do their deeds. He hasn't had PP time to speak of so it wouldn't surprise me if he's putting up 60-ish points total at the end of next year, maybe more.

 

[-DeMo-]

Chicago just took a shot at the quality of this draft class, there scouts clearly believe Byram is better then anything they could draft @ 4, there has also been 2 other top 10 picks traded in the last couple of days for Tkachuk and Eklund those are not superstars either I think people are clearly over estimating the quality of this draft. when's the last time 3 top 10 picks got dealt the week of the draft for players not other picks in a trade up or down situation?

I don’t think Byram is the type to coast, I just don’t think he’ll sign in Chicago. Like- he wants to be a #1, respect for that. Do we really envision that happening? In Chicago? Next year?

His agent wants him going to UFA anyways, he’s known for that, and Byram can pick a prime spot where he gets paid and can compete for a cup.

Sad to see him go, looks good for Buffalo though.

whose going to play infront of Byram to keep him out of the #1 spot next year? plus this is the last off season to get an 8 year deal. don't see why he doesn't re-sign

 

[Bounces R Way]

Most of the classes you list are too early to have a final say of their status (I will say, 2024 is looking very interesting with Demidov, Buium and Sennecke in particular).
I don't think teams automatically go "welp time to trade this pick, class is shite", it's a bit reductive and completely ignores the context of why team(s) might consider trading that pick. I think it's pretty clear that trading the 4th overall says more about Chicago wanting to fast-track their rebuild, and not bother drafting a forward/defenseman that might not pan out for another year+. They feel a sense of urgency to build around Connor Bedard before his free agency years become a concern.

As for the draft itself, the lack of a clear consensus for this year is a bit different from other draft classes, in that the players seem relatively even with flaws in their games that is ultimately up to scouts to decide what they value in an NHL prospect. I think it'll end up being a solid class and we'll lambaste teams for choosing x over y. Compare this to 2012, where Yakupov was seen as the clear consensus, even though he would end up amounting to nothing. The top end of the class were flops for various reasons despite having some form of hype.

Buffalo now has the flexibility to decide if they want to add a defenseman (which they can totally afford to let him develop for 3-5 years with most of their current D-core taken care of), or if they want to add a young forward.

Well of course they're not just saying to themselves "this class is shite, get rid of our draft pick and HURRY". That's not what I said lol

Just remarking that it's probably a contributing factor. Like the FA market also being trash and the urgency the Blackhawks have to get Bedard in the playoffs as you mentioned. I've watched a lot of this top 10 and while Byram may not be all world, I think he's likely the upside you're looking at for several of these defenseman. Not much as far as sure bets for the fwds either after McKenberg.

 

[River Meadow]

Watch Buffalo make a player for Hellebuyck with this pick

You're a genius.

That's exactly what Buffalo needs.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Bizarre move by Chicago imo, with Byram not signed long term

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Didn't see this one coming. Do Sabres see one of the defense prospects in this year's draft being NHL ready and available at four or are there other defensemen nearly NHL ready?

Thought Greenway had found a home after the second half run but that wasn't the case.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I feel like my longterm concussion/short term insomnia is causing some issues for me tonight…

 

[settinguptheplay]

I remember hearing that a large portion of scouts hate this entire draft class. One scout commenting on how he would trade all his picks away and not take anyone. If there is any consensus on this I can see why Chicago might trade away the 4oa. BB was also a 4th oa pick and is still young enough to have not peaked yet. Chicago needs to start winning or risk losing Bedard. It could be another 2~3 years before 4th oa starts to contribute.

I guess I am in the minority but I think Chicago did ok with this one.