Blackhawks trade fourth pick for Byram and Greenway

Chicago sent the fourth-overall pick, the 45th-overall pick and Louis Crevier to Buffalo for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway on Tuesday.

Social media split on asset value

Byram posted 11 goals and 42 points in 82 regular-season games before adding four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games. Those totals represent career highs in both goals and points. Greenway recorded one goal and six points with 57 hits in only 40 games.

The Sabres gained the fourth-overall selection plus their existing 20th-overall pick and the 25-year-old Crevier, who recorded seven goals, 25 points, 124 hits and a 102.83 mph shot this season. Buffalo now controls two first-round selections in a draft where multiple defensemen rank between third and eighth overall.

Reactions on X divided sharply. One post labeled the deal one of the worst trades ever seen. Another user described the day as a nightmare for Chicago fans. Defenders countered that Byram’s established production and skating metrics outweigh the uncertainty of any 2026 draftee over a five-to-seven-year window.

The last time an NHL team knowingly traded a top-five pick after its position was known occurred in 2008 when the Islanders moved the fifth selection. The last comparable player-for-pick swap involving a top-five choice happened in 2003.

Byram’s measurable contributions

Byram ranked in the 91st percentile for maximum skating speed at 22.87 mph, the 95th percentile for speed bursts between 20 and 22 mph and the 97th percentile for bursts between 18 and 20 mph. The left-shot defenseman carries a $6.25 million cap hit for one remaining season and can negotiate an extension beginning July 1.

Greenway’s $4 million cap hit also expires after next season. His physical presence produced 57 hits in limited action, a rate that projects to over 100 hits across a full 82-game schedule.

Chicago gains a top-pair candidate capable of quarterbacking the power play and moving the puck to skilled forwards including Connor Bedard. Buffalo’s return emphasizes future flexibility and immediate size with Crevier.

Draft capital versus established production

The fourth-overall pick could land a defenseman such as Chase Reid or Keaton Verhoeff or a center such as Caleb Malhotra. Historical precedent shows that top-five selections require three to five seasons to match the output of a 25-year-old already delivering 40-plus points.

Byram’s contract status creates urgency. Chicago must decide whether to extend him before he reaches unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season. Greenway offers similar short-term certainty at a lower cap number.

Buffalo can now explore further moves, including potential packages built around the new fourth-overall selection. The Sabres’ front office signaled willingness to trade high picks when market value aligns.

Byram’s 42 points in 82 games and 22.87 mph top speed give Chicago a measurable edge over any projected 2026 fourth-overall defenseman through at least 2030.