Chicago Trades Fourth Overall Pick for Bowen Byram

The Buffalo Sabres have traded Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks for a package that includes the fourth and 45th overall selections in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Byram will head to the Blackhawks alongside Jordan Greenway for the 2026 fourth and 45th overall pick, alongside Louis Crevelier.

Chicago, which was increasingly likely to pursue a top defenseman in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, picks up Byram, a top defender for Buffalo who wasn’t able to play the top minutes he desired under Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin.

Buffalo, a team that just recently made the Stanley Cup playoffs, will likely utilize the fourth overall pick to upgrade their current roster. Whether the pick nets them immediate help either upfront, on the blueline, or in net remains to be seen.

He established himself as a 30-point defender in his first two seasons with the Sabres; whether that translates to Chicago is another point of contention. Byram, a 6-foot-1 defenseman, is in the final year of a two-year bridge contract worth $6.25 million annually.

Given the transactions made over the past few days, it seemed like Chicago was ready to address an immediate need via trade rather than the draft.

That led to them acquiring Bowen Byram.

San Jose is incredibly likely to draft Ivar Stenberg at second overall and now a defenseman at ninth overall, so this pushed the Blackhawks to make a move rather than hoping they find the player they like.

It will be interesting to see what the Buffalo Sabres do with the fourth overall pick, while Chicago aims to continue upgrading their current roster following this trade.