Byram traded to Blackhawks by Sabres for No. 4 pick in 2026 Draft

Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday for the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Buffalo also received defenseman Louis Crevier and a second-round pick (No. 45) in 2026 draft in the deal, while Chicago added forward Jordan Greenway.

"I think when you're talking about a draft pick, the likelihood of that player if it's not maybe (Nos.) 1 or 2 in some years, playing in that year coming up right after that draft is fairly unlikely," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said Wednesday. "So, if you're talking about the team needs going into the summer, in all likelihood there was not going to be an opportunity for that player to come and impact the 26-27 roster, but I don't necessarily think that comes into play. 

"This was just a value we put on a really, really good young player in 'Bo' that we felt it was advantageous to move on and acquire for our group. He fits the style of play we want to play, he fits the age range that we want to put our players into and have our players grow together within, so it just made a lot of sense. It was less an indictment or anything on this year's draft and more so capitalizing on a young player that was available that just doesn't come available very often in the League."

Byram set an NHL career high with 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games this season. He also had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"I'm just super excited to end up in Chicago," Byram said Wednesday. "It's been one of my favorite teams growing up. My dad (Shawn) played in the organization, and it's always kind of felt like the place I wanted to end up. Super excited to be a part of the team. I just think it's a very attractive place for me. I feel like I'll get the opportunity to play and do what I can to help the team improve and help the team win, so I'm super excited for that."

The 25-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on a two-year, $12.5 million contract ($6.25 million average annual value) he signed with Buffalo on July 14, 2025.

"We look at it as, this is a young defenseman who's not only accomplished to this point but is not done getting better, not done growing his own game and growing his own profile," Davidson said. "He's going to be provided an opportunity to, again, grow his profile, grow into his game but provide an elite play-driving influence into our lineup."

Selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Byram has 152 points (44 goals, 108 assists) in 328 regular-season games with the Avalanche and Sabres. He also has 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 40 playoff games, including nine assists in 20 games in 2022, when he helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup.

"To be honest I feel like I've just been preparing for hopefully an opportunity like this for a long time," Byram said. "I'm a two-way defenseman. I transport the puck. I can move the puck, whether it's passing the puck up the ice or using my feet, using my skating to transport it. I think I can help the power play, but I also think I'm a good defender. I feel like I use my feet to defend and close quickly and try to kill plays. Like I said, I'm super excited to have this opportunity. I don't take it lightly. I know Chicago's a great place to play, a great organization, so I'm proud to put the Blackhawks jersey on and do what I can to help the team improve and help the team win."

Greenway had six points (one goal, five assists) in 40 regular-season games for the Sabres, and three points (two goals, one assist) in 13 playoff games.

The 29-year-old forward is entering the final season of a two-year, $8 million contract ($4 million AAV) he signed with Buffalo on March 5, 2025.

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round (No. 50) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Greenway has 165 points (56 goals, 109 assists) in 475 regular-season games for the Wild and Sabres, and 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 35 playoff games.

Crevier had 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 78 games for the Blackhawks this season. The 25-year-old defenseman, who was selected by Chicago in the seventh round (No. 188) of the 2020 NHL Draft, has one season remaining on a two-year, $1.8 million contract ($900,000 AAV) he signed on July 17, 2025.

Buffalo (50-23-9), which won the Atlantic Division this season and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, now has two picks in the first round of this year's draft (also No. 20), which will be held at KeyBank Center, the Sabres' home, beginning on Friday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).

Chicago now doesn't have a pick in the draft until the second round (Nos. 34 and 37), which will take place on Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN). The Blackhawks (29-39-14) finished last in the Central Division and haven't qualified for the postseason since 2019-20.

NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report