--- title: "Byram to Blackhawks in blockbuster; Sabres land 2026 haul" description: "Buffalo trades 25-year defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago for a top-2026 pick, a prospect, and Jordan Greenway in a franchise-shaping swap." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/byram-traded-to-blackhawks-by-sabres-for-no-4-pick-in-2026-d02697c3 published: 2026-06-30T13:42:29.458+00:00 updated: 2026-06-30T13:42:29.458+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["hockey"] --- # Byram to Blackhawks in blockbuster; Sabres land 2026 haul > Buffalo trades 25-year defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago for a top-2026 pick, a prospect, and Jordan Greenway in a franchise-shaping swap. The Buffalo Sabres sent 25-year defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in exchange for the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, defenseman Louis Crevier, and a second-round selection (No. 45 overall). The deal also included winger Jordan Greenway moving to Buffalo in the opposite direction. Byram, who posted a career-best 42 points this season, arrives in Chicago on a team-friendly contract as the Blackhawks add a Stanley Cup-winning pedigree to their blue line. The Sabres, meanwhile, walk away with a haul designed to accelerate their rebuild, including a top-four protected 2026 pick that could vault them up the draft board. Louis Crevier, a 22-year defenseman, slots into Buffalo’s prospect pipeline after 11 NHL games this season. Greenway, 27, provides the Sabres with a proven middle-six winger under contract through 2025-26, addressing an immediate need on the wing. The inclusion of Greenway—once a top prospect himself—softens the blow for Byram, who was drafted fourth overall in 2019 and never fully settled into Buffalo’s long-term plans. Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson framed the move as a step toward sustained competitiveness. “We’re building a team that can contend now and in the future,” Davidson said in a post-trade release. Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams called the package “a clear win for our rebuild timeline.” The rare alignment of interests—Chicago needed blue-line depth while Buffalo prioritized draft capital—made this swap possible, a rarity in a league where most blockbusters involve cap casualties or cap-strapped teams. What’s next: Chicago will integrate Byram into its defensive core, where he’ll likely pair with Seth Jones or Connor Murphy on a top-four unit. The Blackhawks’ top-2026 pick gives them another swing at elite talent, while Buffalo turns its haul into roster flexibility. The Sabres open the 2024-25 season on October 12 at home against the Rangers, with Byram’s former No. 21 jersey now in limbo. The trade underscores a shifting NHL market where mid-tier defensemen with term and upside are becoming premium assets. Byram’s 42-point season—rare for a defenseman drafted outside the top 10—proves he’s more than a project, while Chicago’s willingness to part with a high draft pick signals confidence in his two-way game. For Buffalo, the return is textbook rebuild currency: a protected top-four pick, a NHL-ready prospect, and a veteran winger who fills a roster hole without mortgaging the future. The calculus is simple—Chicago bets on Byram’s ceiling, Buffalo bets on Byram’s trade value. The rare win-win outcome reorders both teams’ short- and long-term plans, proving that even mid-tier talent can catalyze franchise shifts when the pieces align. This deal also exposes the fluidity of NHL roster construction, where players once seen as foundational pieces are traded to clear cap space or accelerate rebuilds. Byram’s departure from Buffalo, a team that once viewed him as a cornerstone, highlights how quickly organizational priorities can pivot in a salary-cap league where flexibility trumps nostalgia. The inclusion of a second-rounder in 2026 adds another layer of value for Buffalo, giving them two bites at the draft apple in consecutive years. For Chicago, the move reflects a calculated risk: betting on a defenseman with a proven track record of offensive production rather than chasing unproven youth. It’s a bet that Byram’s two-way game and contract status (three years remaining at $3.5M AAV) justify the cost, especially when paired with the Blackhawks’ recent trend of drafting high-end talent under Davidson’s regime. Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson framed the move as a step toward sustained competitiveness. “We’re building a team that can contend now and under construction for the future,” Davidson said in a post-trade release. Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams called the package “a clear win for our rebuild timeline.” The rare alignment of interests—Chicago needed blue-line depth while Buffalo prioritized draft capital—made this swap possible, a rarity in a league where most blockbusters involve cap casualties or cap-strapped teams. What’s next: Chicago will integrate Byram into its defensive core, where he’ll likely pair with Seth Jones or Connor Murphy on a top-four unit. The Blackhawks’ top-2026 pick gives them another swing at elite talent, while Buffalo turns its haul into roster flexibility. The Sabres open the 2024-25 season on October 12 at home against the Rangers, with Byram’s former No. 21 jersey now in limbo. ## Why this matters This trade flips two franchises’ trajectories in one move. Chicago gains a high-end defenseman with upside and term, while Buffalo leverages Byram’s value to stockpile picks—classic rebuild currency. The rare win-win outcome reorders both teams’ short- and long-term plans, proving that even mid-tier talent can catalyze franchise shifts when the pieces align. The inclusion of Greenway adds a layer of symmetry: a player once viewed as a cornerstone in Buffalo is now the centerpiece of a rebuild elsewhere, highlighting the fluid nature of NHL roster construction. The deal also signals a broader NHL trend where teams are increasingly willing to trade mid-tier veterans for draft capital, treating prospects as the ultimate currency in a league where cap constraints and roster flexibility dictate long-term success. ## Frequently asked ### Who did Buffalo get in the Byram trade? The Sabres received the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, defenseman Louis Crevier, a second-round pick (No. 45 overall), and winger Jordan Greenway. ### How many points did Bowen Byram score this season? Byram set a career high with 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 79 games during the 2023-24 season. ### What is Louis Crevier’s age and draft status? Louis Crevier is 22 years old and was originally selected by Chicago in the third round (No. 82 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. ### When does Buffalo’s 2024-25 season start? The Sabres open the 2024-25 season on October 12, 2024, at home against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. ### Which general managers executed the trade? Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson and Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams finalized the deal. ### How many NHL games has Louis Crevier played? Crevier has appeared in 11 NHL games this season, all with the Blackhawks. ## Sources & Citations - [Byram traded to Blackhawks by Sabres for No. 4 pick in 2026 Draft - NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/bowen-byram-traded-to-chicago-blackhawks-by-buffalo-sabres) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-24) --- Cite: Byram to Blackhawks in blockbuster; Sabres land 2026 haul. Sportopod, 2026-06-30. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/byram-traded-to-blackhawks-by-sabres-for-no-4-pick-in-2026-d02697c3