The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks for the No. 4 and No. 45 picks in the upcoming draft, as well as blue-liner Louis Crevier, the teams announced Tuesday.
Byram posted a career-high 42 points in 82 games with the Sabres last season, averaging 22:20 per contest. Across his six-year NHL career, he's averaged 38 points per 82 games. While Byram is gifted offensively, his defensive game leaves much to be desired.
Bowen Byram, reportedly acquired by CHI, is an offensive defenceman with a roving, aggressive game built on carrying the puck up-ice and activating in the o-zone. With the right structure around him, he can create a lot of chances without costing his linemates. pic.twitter.com/8hkWi6K2na
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 24, 2026
The 25-year-old has one more year left on his contract with a $6.25-million cap hit. He's happy to take on a bigger role with the Blackhawks, and the two sides will work on an extension in the near future, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.
In Chicago, Byram will have a chance to be the No. 1 defenseman on a blue line also featuring Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and Sam Rinzel.
The Sabres acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2024 deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt.
Colorado drafted Byram fourth overall in 2019. He helped the Avs win the 2022 Stanley Cup, tallying nine points and a plus-15 rating in 20 games that postseason.
The Sabres, who are hosting the draft, also own the No. 20 pick. Defensemen Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff are among the players Buffalo might consider with the No. 4 selection. Ivar Stenberg or Caleb Malhotra could potentially fall to the Sabres if the San Jose Sharks or Vancouver Canucks take a blue-liner in the top three.
Crevier is a 6-foot-8, right-shooting defenseman. The 25-year-old recorded 25 points and 124 hits in 78 games last campaign and is signed for one more season with a $900,000 cap hit.
Greenway, a nine-year NHL veteran, tallied one goal and four assists in 40 contests for the Sabres in 2025-26. The 6-foot-6, 231-pound winger figures to fill a fourth-line and penalty-killing role for Chicago. He has one more year left on his deal with a $4-million cap hit.
