Sabres' Draft Boost
Buffalo Sabres Acquire No. 4 Draft Pick in Bowen Byram Trade with Blackhawks
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The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a major draft-day deal on June 23, trading defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, defenseman Louis Crevier, and the 45th overall pick, according to NHL.com. The deal gives Buffalo two first-round picks at a draft they are hosting at KeyBank Center this Friday.
Byram, 25, set career highs this past season with 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games for Buffalo, per AP News. But with his $6.25 million contract expiring and a long-term extension looking unlikely, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekäläinen moved fast to cash in on his value before it was too late.
How the Sabres Turned a Pending UFA Into a Top-5 Pick
Byram's future in Buffalo had been in doubt for weeks. TSN's Darren Dreger reported he was "non-committal" about re-signing, largely because he wanted a No. 1 role on a top pair — something Buffalo could not offer him behind captain Rasmus Dahlin and blueliner Owen Power. Kekäläinen decided not to risk losing him for nothing in the summer of 2027.
By moving Byram now, Buffalo freed up roughly $9.35 million in cap space, according to NHL.com. That figure includes Byram's $6.25 million hit and the contract of forward Jordan Greenway, who also went to Chicago as part of the deal. In return, Crevier carries just a $900,000 cap number.
Chicago Pays a Steep Price to Support Connor Bedard
For the Blackhawks, the deal is a bet on Byram helping a young defensive core grow up fast. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson targeted Byram to provide "veteran leadership" next to 2024 No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov, according to AP News. Chicago has finished in the bottom of the Central Division four straight seasons and is pushing to build around Bedard's window now.
Many fans and analysts are not convinced. On Reddit, Chicago supporters called it "Seth Jones 2.0" — a reference to a costly defensive trade that did not pay off. Some analysts warned that Chicago needed forwards more than blueliners, and that Byram alone does not fix their defensive system problems, per Sportsnet.
Crevier Is No Throw-In: Meet the 6-Foot-8 Blueliner
Louis Crevier is not just a sweetener. The 25-year-old defenseman stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 228 pounds, making him one of the three tallest players in the NHL, according to NHL.com. He posted 25 points in 78 games last season — a career best — and ranked in the 99th percentile for shot hardness at 102.83 mph, per NHL Edge.
Buffalo now adds a physically imposing, NHL-ready defender at a fraction of the cost of a free-agent signing. Buffalo Hockey Beat called the haul a "masterclass" by Kekäläinen — a top-5 pick, a proven NHL blueliner, and a second-round pick, all for a player who likely would have walked for nothing next summer.
Buffalo Now Holds Picks 4 and 20 in a Deep Defensive Draft
The 2026 draft class is considered one of the strongest in years for defensemen. With the No. 4 pick, Buffalo is in line to select elite prospects such as Carson Carels (WHL), Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota), or Alberts Smits (Latvia), according to AP News. The Sabres also retain the 20th overall pick, giving them two bites at the first-round apple.
There is also speculation that Buffalo could package its two first-rounders to move up to No. 1 or trade for an established top-six forward, per Daily Faceoff. Kekäläinen is set to address the media on June 24 to lay out the team's draft strategy. Round 1 kicks off Friday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
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