Sabres climb to No. 4 in 2026 draft pecking order after Byram deal
Buffalo lands a top-four slot while San Jose doubles up in the top nine after a pre-draft trade blitz reorders the first round.
4 in a mock 2026 NHL Draft order by shipping defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, according to a fresh projection released this week. The trade alone would have shifted the ’ position, but the broader frenzy of pre-draft moves accelerated the reshuffle. The emerged as the biggest beneficiaries, landing two selections inside the top nine after absorbing multiple picks in a single flurry of deals.
