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

[joepeps]

Were the Sabres not in on Thomas at the last TDL? From what I remember with the Parayko failed trade was they were trying to land both.

4th OA a piece they are trying to dangle for Thomas now?

They both don't want to go to Buffalo

 

[Habs Halifax]

They both don't want to go to Buffalo

Maybe, maybe not. Sabres are up to something bud with that Byram return. Could be Larkin but will Yzerman trade him within the division? Would require massive overpayment over the others who are likely offering a lot.

 

[Djp]

The irony here is that this happened because the Blackhawks bid against a draft pick they allowed Florida to have top 10 protection on without notifying the fan base.

That 9th overall the Sharks were offering on Byram was a result of Florida protecting the 1st rounder from the Seth Jones trade with the Blackhawks. Now Florida upgrades and the Seth Jones return will likely be worse.

I did not see/hear thr sharks offer....source?

Were the Sabres not in on Thomas at the last TDL? From what I remember with the Parayko failed trade was they were trying to land both.

4th OA a piece they are trying to dangle for Thomas now?

They might gave moved on

They currently have $26m in cap space. This deal wasn’t the needle to get Tuch re-signed.

On puck media they have

12/6/3 with $21.3M in space.

If they sign
benson at 7 yr for 7m
Malenstyn at 3m for 3 yrs
Tuch 10m for 8yrs
Send kulich down
Trade krebs
Trade lyon/ levi
Trade/ bury danforth
Promote ryan johnson

They gave 13/7/3 with some space




1

 

[TageGod]

They both don't want to go to Buffalo

Thomas was willing to go to Buffalo, that came out at the deadline.

 

[elitepete]

People here see nothing but victory for BUF, but this is strange to me. BUF just want to keep drafting? I hope not. If they use this to get a really serious piece then great. But if they end up just drafting 4th OA, then they have done nothing to advance their objective. CHI on the other hand paid what it costs to get a top D (I'm assuming they see him as one).

HF is going have to swallow this bitter pill: The team that ends up with the best player in the deal wins the trade.

Nope. They can just draft a prospect that they can use as a trade chip for the future.

Plus, even if they decide to keep the player… is that so wrong? Their core is all age 21-28 so still pretty young. Having a high end prospect on a dirt cheap ELC come and make the team in the next 1-2 years would be a huge boost.

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

Request a trade?

He's extending for 8 years now that he has a 1D to play with

Bedard is tired of stockpiling picks and prospects

This is a move that inspires confidence

I guarantee you Bedard doesn't give a shit about waiting 4 years for Chase Reid to hopefully become a 2nd pairing defenseman

Mate.. Byram is not a 1D, cmon now lol.

He's a decent 2nd pairing guy who is 1 conky away from never playing again.

This was a complete mismanagement of a valuable asset with the 4thOA pick.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Nope. They can just draft a prospect that they can use as a trade chip for the future.

Plus, even if they decide to keep the player… is that so wrong? Their core is all age 21-28 so still pretty young. Having a high end prospect on a dirt cheap ELC come and make the team in the next 1-2 years would be a huge boost.

No. The future is now. Teams like CHI, SJS, and MTL all drafted as much as BUF. They want real players now. BUF should want that too.

Edit. In no way am I saying that BUF did something bad here, but CHI became a stronger team here, and BUF has to line up at the podium. I hope BUF uses that pick for a real good can play now player.

 

[elitepete]

No. The future is now. Teams like CHI, SJS, and MTL all drafted as much as BUF. They want real players now. BUF should want that too.

Do you realize how valuable having young contributing players playing well over their cap hit is to contending teams in terms of allowed them to retain players and keep their contention window open?

 

[Stuzchuk]

there'S several report that states that this is a weaker draft.... but this is still a top 4 pick for f***sakes

oh I didnt say that this was a good move for CHI... IMHO in 3-4-5 years I fully expect the player picked at #4 will be better than Byram. I dont understand it either but I fully expect pressure from the younger players to get them a better team now.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

oh I didnt say that this was a good move for CHI... IMHO in 3-4-5 years I fully expect the player picked at #4 will be better than Byram. I dont understand it either but I fully expect pressure from the younger players to get them a better team now.

Depends on the player in the top 5. For example, leaving out 1st OA, I'd rather have demidov or sennecke on my team today than Byram. They were both taken in the 2024 top 5. Thats 1-2 years. And they're a rebuilding team. Absolutely horrific on Davidson's part.

But I guess they saw the playoffs (besides the finals) and concluded that to be a good team, they probably have to have an elite PMD and think Byram is that

 

[Waltuh]

just throwing in crevier is absolutely insane. i usually play devils advocate with some of these trades but god damn man. this shit is ugly.

 

[shaner8989]

Davidson fired yet?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I kind of get what the Blackhawks are doing here. In theory Byram rounds out the top 4 nicely with Vlasic, Levshunov, and Rinzel. He's also a little older, so he can be the face of the group while the others grow.

... But that's where this ends. He's got major injury concerns and has an agent who is notorious for trying to get his clients every last dollar. An agent that now has every bit of leverage in the world, and is going to demand whatever Makar or Hughes get unless the Hawks want to watch the guy they gave up the 4th OV for go to market one year later...

 

[banks]

I'm usually the guy reminding HF that draft picks have less buying power than fans tend to think. That makes most trades with high picks look like an overpay.

But this really is an overpay. Byram is not that good. Brutal trade for CHI.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

I just realized he’s a UFA next year and Darren Ferris is his agent.

He’s gonna make like 14m

 

[Chainshot]

Davidson fired yet?

His phone is probably lighting up so much. He wouldn’t be able to get the message for a while. I kid, I kid.

Depends on the player in the top 5. For example, leaving out 1st OA, I'd rather have demidov or sennecke on my team today than Byram. They were both taken in the 2024 top 5. Thats 1-2 years. And they're a rebuilding team. Absolutely horrific on Davidson's part.

But I guess they saw the playoffs (besides the finals) and concluded that to be a good team, they probably have to have an elite PMD and think Byram is that

Bo had some amazing games in the Sabres playoff run. I’m sure that has something to do with their interest. They know he has a body of work for two different teams where he elevates his game in the playoffs. I still think he could put up 60 or more points as the number one in Chicago, especially if there’s a functioning power play that he’s the primary point man on.

 

[AvroArrow]

Honestly a franchise crippling trade, feel horrible for Hawks fans.

 

[CanadianHawks]

Depends on the player in the top 5. For example, leaving out 1st OA, I'd rather have demidov or sennecke on my team today than Byram. They were both taken in the 2024 top 5. Thats 1-2 years. And they're a rebuilding team. Absolutely horrific on Davidson's part.

But I guess they saw the playoffs (besides the finals) and concluded that to be a good team, they probably have to have an elite PMD and think Byram is that

Apples and Oranges. Forwards are all gonna be off the board by 4. D take longer to develop. Look at the D from that 2024 draft. Unless you get a superstar talent D take a long time. Apparently SJ and Chicago both don’t see that player available considering SJ looks to go Stenberg 2 and Hawks traded out. Might just be a weak draft

 

[Sparksrus3]

4th overall is too much right?

He was drafted #4 overall , he has not disappointed, his point totals have gone up every season in the league , he is getting better all around every season in, he is still only 25 …. Too much Nah ….

Korchinski/Rinzel + 3 2nds (or 2027 1st) + roster player?