Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Chicago trades for Bowen Byram, targets top-pair defense.

6/25/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Byram Stays

Chicago got Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway from Buffalo for No. 4 and No. 45 picks and Louis Crevier.
Byram posted 42 points in 82 games in 2025-26, has one year left on a $6.25 million cap-hit contract, can extend on July 1, and wants to stay in Chicago.
GM Kyle Davidson said Chicago will put its money where its mouth is because they view Byram as a potential top-pair defenseman.

Summary

Buffalo Secures Picks

Buffalo won the Division, first playoff berth in 15 years, and secured No. 4 and No. 20 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The trade left Buffalo cap-flexible, enabling pursuit of free-agent forward Alex Tuch, who is “very likely” to become a free agent on July 1.
Chicago entered the draft without a first-round pick and must rely on its defensive core—Ethan Del Mastro, Wyatt Kaiser, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel and No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov.

Summary

Buffalo Trades Byram

Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram back to the fourth overall slot of the 2019 NHL Draft.
The trade, announced during the NBA Draft, gave Buffalo 6-foot-8 defenseman Louis Crevier, who ranked second on Chicago in hits and blocked shots last season.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen said extending Byram was his first priority, indicating a shift from retention to asset accumulation after Buffalo traded Michael Kesselring for the 20th overall pick.

History

Historical Context

After selecting Eric Lindros first overall in the 1991 draft, the Quebec Nordiques faced his refusal to play and, in June 1992, negotiated a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi upheld the deal on June 30, sending Lindros to Philadelphia for Ron Hextall, Peter Forsberg, multiple players and $15 million, a move that later helped the relocated Colorado Avalanche win the 1996 Stanley Cup.

1 of 4

Byram Stays

Chicago got Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway from Buffalo for No. 4 and No. 45 picks and Louis Crevier.
Byram posted 42 points in 82 games in 2025-26, has one year left on a $6.25 million cap-hit contract, can extend on July 1, and wants to stay in Chicago.
GM Kyle Davidson said Chicago will put its money where its mouth is because they view Byram as a potential top-pair defenseman.

1 / 4