[TITLE>Sabres Acquire Blackhawks’ First-Round Pick in Draft-Day Trade for Dylan Byram]
Dylan Byram established an NHL career high with 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) across 82 games for the Buffalo Sabres this season, adding seven points (four goals, three assists) in 13 playoff contests.
The 25-year-old defenseman enters the final year of his two-year, $12.5 million contract ($6.25 million average annual value) signed on July 14, 2025.
Drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019, Byram has accumulated 152 points (44 goals, 108 assists) in 328 regular-season games with Colorado and Buffalo, with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 40 playoff outings. His nine assists during the 2022 postseason contributed to Colorado’s Stanley Cup championship.
Buffalo also receives prospect forward Jacob Greenway, who recorded six points (one goal, five assists) in 40 regular-season games and three points (two goals, one assist) in 13 playoff contests for the Sabres. The 29-year-old concludes the final season of his two-year, $8 million contract ($4 million AAV) agreed to on March 5, 2025.
Drafted 50th overall by Minnesota in 2015, Greenway has totaled 165 points (56 goals, 109 assists) in 475 career games with the Wild and Sabres, along with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 35 playoff appearances.
Chicago acquires Byram in exchange for its 2026 first-round selection. The Blackhawks also send defenseman Wyatt Crevier to Buffalo, whose 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 78 games this season helped fill the void.
Selected 188th overall by Chicago in 2020, Crevier has one season remaining on his two-year, $1.8 million contract ($900,000 AAV) signed on July 17, 2025.
The Sabres (50-23-9) captured the Atlantic Division title this season and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, ownership now holding two first-round picks in Friday’s draft at KeyBank Center (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).
The Blackhawks (29-39-14) finished last in the Central Division and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20, lacking draft picks until the second round (Nos. 34 and 37) on Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN).
