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

[Kevin Musto]

Lmao is this serious? Sharks can't have a good defense because they didn't overpay for Byram? Wow.

Where is the defense coming from?

Sam Dickinson?

 

[ijuka]

San Jose traded Eklund for 9th overall in hopes of moving that pick for Byram

Chicago just prevented San Jose from ever having a good blueline

The ripple effects of this trade will be felt for years on years as San Jose continues to falter just as the Leafs did because the media overhyped their defenseless core

Maybe San Jose just signs him next summer when he's UFA.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Maybe San Jose just signs him next summer when he's UFA.

Byram is extending with his favourite team

 

[monkforasia]

Byram is a ride or die Blackhawks Fan. He also is now QB #1. Its more likely hes going to sign an extension than not. I'm willing to wager something on this forum to anyone who says otherwise.

 

[VintageBure]

This not that far off the Hughes which is crazy. And I thought Ottawa overpayed for Eklund. You get the feeling that the GMs are not a big fan off this draft class

 

[NeverForget06]

fun fact: SJ was never seriously in on Byram. Grier just showed interest so Chicago panicked and overpaid for him. Congratulations, you got played.

I mean if they did raise the price and then back out they still impacted the market against their own interest... they need to trade for defenceman as well lol

 

[ijuka]

Byram is extending with his favourite team
View attachment 1258415

So they could just have signed him as UFA next summer and allowed SJS to have him for a year while keeping the pick, right?

 

[Beerz]

Byram returned magic beans. They could be anything, even Byram!

From a team perspective, it doesn't make Buffalo any better. Likely at 4th, it's all D to choose from and most of them have/will commit to college. By the time they're ready for the NHL - it could be a few years, if ever. I also don't know if Buffalo is going to want to draft a defencemen because the top 3 can possibly all be forwards leaving almost all d-men to pick from - so they might already be shopping the pick for immediate help.

Nah.. Buffalo can get one of Malhotra or Bjork

 

[CanadianHawks]

I don't think that's necessarily the point. Byram was walking either way, so Buffalo had limited leverage. If we the public know, Chicago knows it. To give the 4th OA is a massive return, and I certainly hope they have him ready to sign an extension, otherwise it's even more of a disaster. Another point, there are only so many spots for offensive dmen. As good as Byram was in Buffalo, he wanted more playing time and money. We just saw a disgruntled Nemec get dealt. And now Davidson has seemingly gone from "Korchinski's our guy" to Levshunov, and now Byram. It's like he gets infatuated with his new toy and envisions this dream scenario of an elite #1 dman, and when they don't live up he moves on to the next guy. The asset management is all over the place.

What shiny toy has Davidson even had to move on from in the first place? Just trying to create a narrative.

Korchinski looks like a bust, just like number 4 could end up. He certainly doesn't look like a needle mover. The Hawks told Treliving to kick rocks at the deadline when he asked to deal Knies for Lev. Byram is at a completely different point of his development than Lev, Rinzel, Korchinski ect thats the whole point of this deal. You can't stick a bunch of rookie or second year D out there unless you want to be the next Buffalo and have a decade plus playoff drought.

First glance Hawks over paid. I like Crevier and he will be a solid 4/5 RHD for Buffalo. For them with the glut of offensive D, Byram wanting a big contract and a bigger role, their cap structure already set no D will out earn Dahlin, and the draft at home this is a home run for them. Wouldn't be surprised if they announce a big trade with the pick or resign Tuch and announce it to their fans Friday night. Kudos to them.

As far as the Hawks go, we had no push from the back end and our left side had no one with any hope of remotely doing so. Hawks have gone cold on Korchinski, Vlasic and Kaiser are more defensive minded D men with limited offensive upside.

 

[TheRumble]

Am I the only one here who thinks Chicago made a great trade?

None of the defensemen in this draft are any good if two wingers are projected to go 1st and 2nd overall.

All things being equal scouts will rate dmen higher than wingers. Chicago clearly wanted McKenna or Sternberg but aren't getting either. Based on reports they tried getting Knies but balked at the asking price so their next hole was defense and Bowen Byram fills that need. Chase Reid or Verhoff may be better than Byram ins 2-5 years but Chicago needs help now while Bedard is young.

 

[Kevin Musto]

So they could just have signed him as UFA next summer and allowed SJS to have him for a year while keeping the pick, right?

wait till next summer?

Hawks are winning the Cup next season

 

[Grinner]

What a bitter offseason the Hawks are having.
1st they dropped down two spots in the lottery
And now they've traded the 4thoa++ for Byram and a stiff.
Yikes!

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Should be noted doesn't inspire confidence in Levshunov pick when our GM gives away #4, #45 and Crevier for a guy he hopes can be a #1D PMD/QB1.. You know same things he claimed Levshunov would be when he passed over Demidov for him

I gave KD benefit of doubt but at this point he has shown he is a terrible GM and has thrown away so many assets on defenders he either refuses to allow to play or seems to have no belief actually are as good as he claimed

2nd overall for Levshunov
7th overall for Korchinski
25th overall for Rinzel

Now this giveaway for a #4 he hopes will magically become a #1

Its clear Davidson has no f***ing clue about how to build a NHL blueline (Or NHL roster at this point)

Also hiring shitstains like Richardson and Blashill to "Coach Up" kids has been a complete and utter disaster at this point

I am sure Musto and others will chime in to defend Kyle "Can Do NO Wrong" Davidson and I see they already have been trying

 

[Bizz]

Hawks badly needed a legit top pairing LHD. As in one who’s ready now. They only gave up a bottom pairing RHD off their roster to make it happen. As long as Byram resigns, which I’m sure he will unless things go badly south(and if that happens then there are much bigger concerns anyways), then this is a solid move for the Hawks. I really don’t understand why people are acting like they just overpaid. They didn’t even include Rinzel or Levshunov, both of whom play the right side and have much higher ceilings and are much younger than Crevier. They gave up none of their forward prospects. The #4OA pick in a weak draft(outside top 2) wasn’t going to help them improve their blueline next season, or get them that 1LHD or a PP QB. They had to make a move and they did.

This trade has a 0.0000000% chance of working out well for the Hawks. No amount of bargaining by you your your fans will ever polish this turd of a trade into gold.

 

[The don godfather]

This trade has a 0.0000000% chance of working out well for the Hawks. No amount of bargaining by you your your fans will even polish this turd of a trade into gold.

This is such a dangerous trade for hawks only way it works is that 4 th overall pick becomes a kravtsov type.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

So they could just have signed him as UFA next summer and allowed SJS to have him for a year while keeping the pick, right?

yes. Also Buffalo had no leverage because Byram was walking and on the block for 2 years yet still got an overpay.

Should be noted doesn't inspire confidence in Levshunov pick when our GM gives away #4, #45 and Crevier for a guy he hopes can be a #1D PMD/QB1.. You know same things he claimed Levshunov would be when he passed over Demidov for him

I gave KD benefit of doubt but at this point he has shown he is a terrible GM and has thrown away so many assets on defenders he either refuses to allow to play or seems to have no belief actually are as good as he claimed

2nd overall for Levshunov
7th overall for Korchinski
25th overall for Rinzel

Now this giveaway for a #4 he hopes will magically become a #1

Its clear Davidson has no f***ing clue about how to build a NHL blueline (Or NHL roster at this point)

Also hiring shitstains like Richardson and Blashill to "Coach Up" kids has been a complete and utter disaster at this point

I am sure Musto and others will chime in to defend Kyle "Can Do NO Wrong" Davidson and I see they already have been trying

I was under the impression that Musto doesnt like KD. maybe I am wrong.

the problem isnt Byram. The problem is KD. hes an idiot, or he has no vison. Either way, both are massive character flaws you do not want in your GM.

 

[monkforasia]

This trade has a 0.0000000% chance of working out well for the Hawks. No amount of bargaining by you your your fans will ever polish this turd of a trade into gold.

Buddy what's tomorrow's lottery #s?

 

[Bizz]

Buddy what's tomorrow's lottery #s?

I dunno, but you have a better chance of winning the powerball than Byram ever becoming a more valuable player than whoever is going to go 4th overall.

 

[SimpleJack]

Am I the only one here who thinks Chicago made a great trade?

None of the defensemen in this draft are any good if two wingers are projected to go 1st and 2nd overall.

All things being equal scouts will rate dmen higher than wingers. Chicago clearly wanted McKenna or Sternberg but aren't getting either. Based on reports they tried getting Knies but balked at the asking price so their next hole was defense and Bowen Byram fills that need. Chase Reid or Verhoff may be better than Byram ins 2-5 years but Chicago needs help now while Bedard is young.

I also like this trade for the Hawks, but I suppose we are the minority here.

I think the masses sort of view the top 6 forward positions to be the Hawks area of need, but with what they have incoming the real need is(was) 1LHD. They needed a defenseman who can step in opening night and play with their other high end young core players right away.

 

[SimpleJack]

I dunno, but you have a better chance of winning the powerball than Byram ever becoming a more valuable player than whoever is going to go 4th overall.

Isn’t everyone beyond Stenberg/McKenna basically throwing darts and hoping one sticks? Who’s the can’t miss prospect the Hawks are passing on here?

 

[LiseL]

12.5 for Byram?? bro what has he done to earn that.

#3 Dmen getting this money is crazy. What would Hutson get? 18?

Man were they smart to lock up Lane before the cap went crazy, 8.5 is a STEAL.

This deal will f*** over so many teams with young elite D due for an extension.

Very grateful the Sens have Sanderson locked up for another 5 years at $8M.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I also like this trade for the Hawks, but I suppose we are the minority here.

I think the masses sort of view the top 6 forward positions to be the Hawks area of need, but with what they have incoming the real need is(was) 1LHD. They needed a defenseman who can step in opening night and play with their other high end young core players right away.

...I don't just think it's most believing that the Hawks needed a winger to play with Bedard; I, like many here, don't see Byram as a True #1 defenseman...I personally see a younger, moderately more offensively talented Mike Matheson...

 

[Bizz]

 

[SimpleJack]

...I don't just think it's most believing that the Hawks needed a winger to play with Bedard; I, like many here, don't see Byram as a True #1 defenseman...I personally see a younger, moderately more offensively talented Mike Matheson...

That’s what they need though is offense from the back end, and the left side. Maybe he’s the #2/3 when it’s said and done with Levshunov being the real “1”, but he’s miles better offensively than anything the Hawks had on their blueline, and they need to compete opening night and not sit back and wait for guys(like Reid or whoever else they could have drafted at 4OA) to develop.

 

[SwedishFire]

We'll see. Jarmo is a crappy GM.

He killed it. 4th overall gonna be good