The Buffalo Sabres just pulled off a trade that might look lopsided on paper, but that’s exactly why Jarmo Kekalainen made it. Chicago sent the fourth overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft to Buffalo for defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway. The deal broke late Thursday and set off a wave of immediate reactions, most of them asking one question: Did the Blackhawks just overpay?
Chicago finished with the second-worst record in the league last season but dropped to fourth in the draft lottery after both Toronto and San Jose jumped them. That changed everything. The Blackhawks needed a defenseman and instead of taking whoever was left at four, Kyle Davidson decided to go get one who already plays in the NHL. Byram is 23, has 42 points last season, and plays a smooth two-way game. He also needs a new contract and is one year away from unrestricted free agency.
Buffalo’s plan is coming together fast
Kekalainen took over as Sabres GM this offseason and immediately started reshaping the roster. Buffalo just made its first playoff appearance in 15 years. That is not a fluke. The Sabres traded Michael Kesselring to San Jose earlier this week and now moved Byram. That leaves them with a bunch of picks including the fourth overall and the 20th overall in Friday’s first round.
The Sabres suddenly have a hole on defense but they also have the assets to fill it. They could draft a defenseman at four. Or they could trade that pick for immediate help. Or they could package the 20th pick and move up. They have options. That is the point. <img src="
” alt=”Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen at a press conference” style=”max-width:100%;height:auto;” />
Byram scored 42 points last season but Buffalo can replace that production pretty easily. If Radim Mrtka is NHL-ready next year, he could step in. The Sabres get an A-minus here because they created a need they can actually solve.
Chicago’s gamble looks expensive
The Blackhawks have been stuck in no-man’s land since the dynasty ended. They have top-ten picks everywhere. Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov have not become stars yet. Now Chicago traded the fourth pick for a defenseman who might not have a higher ceiling than the 18-year-olds available in this draft.
Byram is good. He is not elite. And the Blackhawks also threw in defenseman Louis Crevier and the 45th overall pick to make this happen. That is a lot for a player they now have to re-sign before he hits UFA. The argument in favor is simple: If Byram is better than every defenseman in this draft class, then paying the premium makes sense. But that is a big if.
Free agency offers no great option for a power-play quarterback. So Chicago did what it had to do. Still, entering Friday without a first-round pick stings. The Blackhawks get a D-plus. They got their guy but they paid fourth-overall money for a mid-first-round talent.
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