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

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Was Crevier any good this year?

 

[Eggtimer]

What the hell is Chicago thinking here …

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I laid for a couple hours and wake up to apparently Chicago having it's lunch money stolen.

The f*** is this trade?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Was Crevier any good this year?

Yes

 

[Snippit]

I'll be honest I think the 4OA for Byram straight up is probably fair. My honest assessment is Byram is a #3 with potential for more. I badly wanted to keep him in Buffalo's elite top 4. Given the context of Byram kind of forcing Buffalo's hand/contract uncertainty, I did expect less than 4OA but ultimately I think if Byram is signed (and not to 12M) that it's fine for Chicago. 4OA can definitely bust and Byram is proven with potential for a higher ceiling. I think 55+ points is very possible every year for him with more PP time.

The add ons seem excessive. 45OA, plus a solid bottom pair D? Plus taking on Greenway? In my opinion they overpaid by these 3 extra things.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

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.

could have traded 4 ova for Robertson or Knies in some package similar to this to help Bedard. Thats why this is so insane.

 

[sabremike]

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

Was Crevier any good this year?

his analytics were good last 2 years. He was the #1 RD on Chicago at the end of the year.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I'm a fan of Byram's game. But I like what Buffalo has done here. Nice trade for Buffalo.

 

[OVO16]

This is insane. Was I sleeping on Byram?? Or am i going crazy

How the hell did the Blackhawks add on top of that

 

[Icebreakers]

Was Crevier any good this year?

He led them in even strength points and goals (as a dman). Obviously thats not a great D core but hes not a throw in by any means. 6'8 230 is rare.

 

[Divine]

could have traded 4 ova for Robertson or Knies in some package similar to this to help Bedard. Thats why this is so insane.

Rumour is Chicago offered the Leafs that pick already for Knies and they said no. I don’t know if Dallas is trading Robertson for futures either.

Chicago really wanted to trade that pick.

 

[Coldnwindy]

I really wanted Crevier on the Caps. His year over year growth is special for a defenseman of that size and age. It could end up being a Kesselring/Doan 2.0 deal for Buffalo with Crevier ending up as a better piece than whatever comes of the 4th overall long term.

 

[Divine]

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.

If you hate an entire draft class you probably shouldn’t be a scout

I guarantee it’s not a large portion of the scouts who hate all 200+ players in this class

The irony of the whole situation is the 2019 draft class (where Byram was drafted) was considered to be very weak and underwhelming too at the time. Lots of players came out of it.

 

[MajorLeaf]

This will be one of those “where were you on the day you found out about the Chicago Byram trade?”

The draft in Buffalo just got way better for the Sabres fans that will be on attendance on the 26th.

 

[HaNotsri]

This is insane. Was I sleeping on Byram?? Or am i going crazy

How the hell did the Blackhawks add on top of that

I think byram is a top pairing d. Good deal for both sides.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

Rumour is Chicago offered the Leafs that pick already for Knies and they said no. I don’t know if Dallas is trading Robertson for futures either.

Chicago really wanted to trade that pick.

Rumor also is Chicago offered Levshunov for Knies straight up iirc and it was late or something but would have gone through at the TDL? at any rate this exact trade for Knies over Byram would have been more palatable because Bedard needs a linemate. This essentially takes a strength at RD and trades it for a strength at LD which is ok on its face but doesnt help the forward core at all which arguably needs the most help.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

The only thing is now Buffalo is going to need another Top 4 Dman. Wonder how they go about getting it.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Who needs a 4th OV when you can get Bowen Byram. He was selected 4th OV!

And can give him an overpriced LT contract!

 

[LiseL]

Byram wanted too much money, Kesselring didn't fit the system

Byram has also said many times he wants to be 1D and on PP1. Looks like he'll be getting his wish. He's already won a cup and is young so maybe being on a rebuilding team is OK with him.

 

[Al Lagoon]

he just turned 25,,,still young for a D

A whole year younger than Quinn Hughes.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

I'll be honest I think the 4OA for Byram straight up is probably fair. My honest assessment is Byram is a #3 with potential for more. I badly wanted to keep him in Buffalo's elite top 4. Given the context of Byram kind of forcing Buffalo's hand/contract uncertainty, I did expect less than 4OA but ultimately I think if Byram is signed (and not to 12M) that it's fine for Chicago. 4OA can definitely bust and Byram is proven with potential for a higher ceiling. I think 55+ points is very possible every year for him with more PP time.

The add ons seem excessive. 45OA, plus a solid bottom pair D? Plus taking on Greenway? In my opinion they overpaid by these 3 extra things.

Yep the 3 extras are what push it over to a crazy return especially the greenway dump of salary - plus sounds like the D we got back could be more than I initially thought

 

[333KIngs]

impressive they turned mittlestadt into this

 

[Panthaz89]

WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUŬT

 

[LokiDog]

A bit perplexed… I loved Byram as a fit for a few teams, but 4OA, 45th and a giant young bottom pair D? I understand Chicago is trying to get better immediately but it still just seems a bad trade.