Sabres trade Byram, Greenway to Blackhawks for No. 4 pick, Crevier, second-rounder
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks for the No. 4 and 45 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft and defenseman Louis Crevier, aiming to manage salary cap issues and gain valuable draft assets.
- Byram, 25, is in the final year of a $6.25 million contract and has shown interest in a bigger role than Buffalo can offer; the Sabres chose to trade him while his value was high following a career-best season.
- The Sabres now face the challenge of replacing Byram on defense but benefit from acquiring a high draft pick that could be used to select top prospects or as trade currency, especially with other roster uncertainties like Alex Tuch’s free agency status.
- For Chicago, acquiring Byram adds veteran stability and a left-handed, puck-moving defenseman to complement their young defensive core, potentially improving their power play and overall defensive depth.
- The Blackhawks also gain forward Jordan Greenway, though his injury history is a concern, while trading away promising defenseman Louis Crevier, who had a strong season, indicating a strategic shift in their rebuilding process.
