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

[Mickey Marner]

I'm not high on this draft, but 4th seems like a lot.

 

[wunderpanda]

this looks good for the sabres, get the 4th pick when the draft is in buffalo. moved out a luxury asset & a good defensive forward and already have the depth to replace them. and a stanley-crevier 3rd pairing could be fun.

great for byram, especially if the contract rumor is true. gets the opportunity to show he didn't need makar or dahlin/power to produce.

i like the idea of this for chicago. byram might have been the best available option for them. he's only 25 and an established producer. its not like chasing hamilton, nurse, reilly or perceived cap dumps. its not like nemec or drysdale being on the cusp. that and the sharks also wanting byram explain the extras. greenway will fill a role, he may return a 2nd or crevier in a trade by himself, but without other teams wanting byram, sabres get less.

it seems smart for chicago, they need to give bedard support to move to another level or lose bedard. a 2nd round pick or 3rd pair defender seem reasonable losses for a guy that (in theory) steps in as the #1d for the next 8 years. doesn't hurt that he grew up a hawks fan either. that helps with marketing & propaganda, same as tavares going to toronto or tuch going to sabres.

risks all around, but chicago wasn't drafting anyone that would be better than byram next season with that pick. hopefully, hawks have the extension lined up for him. shit falls apart if he just leaves in a year.

 

[TheFamousFart]

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

I'm not high on this draft, but 4th seems like a lot.

I dont know where these come from, but this draft has elite talent and a huge opportunity for elite talent at 4oa, Mckenna (and Stenberg most likely) are off the board at 4th but atleast getting Bjork is crazy, pretty sure there is some other great fit!

 

[LiseL]

As a Sabres fan, I love a bidding war.

 

[Pavels Dog]

That's a trade you make when you're desperate for a #1D. I honestly don't hate the gamble from Chicago but from their side I'd have preferred to trade some young forward prospect instead of 4th overall and then draft Björck or someone.

 

[LiseL]

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?


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

I would think there was some kind of contract discussions (would he extend with them) before they finalized the trade, otherwise why would SJ also be involved? 2 teams that currently don't have 1D's in their line-up. Wouldn't be surprised if Byram was open to either one of them if the offer was right. Won't have to wait long to find out. He can sign an extension next week.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

The lead up to July 1st is already getting wild.

Happy Canada day hockey fans!

 

[LiseL]

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

SJ could've always offered # 2 if they wanted him badly enough.

 

[SimpleJack]

That's a trade you make when you're desperate for a #1D. I honestly don't hate the gamble from Chicago but from their side I'd have preferred to trade some young forward prospect instead of 4th overall and then draft Björck or someone.

Not sure if they could have gotten that done though without it being one of Frondell/Kantserov/Nazar.