Rating Chicago Blackhawks’ Shocking Trade by Bowen Byram – Hockey Writers – Chicago Blackhawks

A hot trading summer? The NHL trade winds are sure to blow. Only today, Šimon Nemec, Jordan Kyrou, and Bowen Byram have all been traded to new locations. Perhaps most puzzling was the Chicago Blackhawks’ acquisition of Byram from the Buffalo Sabres. As part of the package, the Blackhawks sent the fourth pick to Buffalo. Here are the full details:

The Blackhawks get:

The Sabers get:

• 4th overall pick
• 45 choices in total
• Louis Crevier

The Blackhawks need to add more NHL talent to their roster, but this is an unknowingly bad trade for them. As for the Sabres, they knocked it out of the park in getting the fourth overall pick for a player who may be headed for a payday he doesn’t deserve.

Poor Asset Management for the Blackhawks

That might be a rough introduction to this trade. It’s not that I hate Byram. He actually had a solid season for the Sabres, but value is important in this trade. Trading a top five pick in the NHL Draft should result in a first line forward or a top couple, 1 defenseman in return, but Byram is not that.

Byram was a top pick, but injuries (arguably more specifically) hampered his growth during his prime development seasons in his post-draft years. He’s improved and turned into a capable defender since then, but that may be what his ceiling is right now.

Byram is a strong defender. He is well-traveled and effective in transition. He’s a good passer and has a lot of puck skills, and he’s very good at getting out of the defensive zone, whether it’s his dribbling or passing. He is also a decent rush defender.

The problem with Byram’s microstats profile is that the effects never follow. He had a solid season at 5-on-5 in Buffalo, but head coach Lindy Ruff’s system always favors defenses. John Klingberg had his best years in Dallas when Ruff was the Stars head coach, and Dougie Hamilton had a career in 2022-23 when Ruff was behind the New Jersey Devils bench.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Byram had the best season of his career in 2025-26 under Ruff’s watch, but he won’t be going to the same place in Chicago. The Blackhawks have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL this season, and now expect Byram to be No. 1, which he hasn’t shown so far in his career.

Also, Byram could be in line for an extension that comes with an eight-figure cap hit. That wouldn’t start until July 1, 2027, but it’s something you can’t ignore. The Blackhawks would have been better off holding on to the fourth overall pick and selecting a defenseman, because there’s a good chance the player could be as good, or better, than Byram down the road.

This is incredible asset management from the Blackhawks. Byram is probably a No. 3 or 4 defenseman for the Cup, and I’d be shocked if he suddenly becomes a true top-pair defenseman. This just sounds like an organization that is desperate and wants to speed up rebuilding. Just ask the Detroit Red Wings how that went for them. It won’t end well.

Blackhawks grade: D

Sabers are cooked

The way the pendulum has swung for the Sabres, am I right? This is a perfect home run, a grand slam, or however you want to call it, for GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Although Byram is a good fit for what they want to do, it won’t fit the payday he ordered by extension.

Also, the Sabers already have plenty of lefty shots on defense. Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson have played significant time on the right side this season, so one of them will return to the left side with Byram headed to the Blackhawks.

In addition, the Sabers were able to free up some cap space by trading Jordan Greenway to the Blackhawks. He is the lowest player on the log, but it will not be difficult to replace him with the number of young players coming up.

It will be interesting to see what Kekalainen cooks up with the fourth overall pick. You don’t see top-five picks move from team to team very often, but the Sabers are officially in winning mode now. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Kekalainen packages opt for a blockbuster addition. Time will tell, but I like this move by the Sabers. I don’t give out A-pluses very often, but this deserves one.

Sabers grade: A+

Microstats statistics from Hockey Stats