Bowen Byram received the opportunity he needed in a spot he needed to go. He thinks he’s ready.
So do the Chicago Blackhawks — and so they paid a hefty value due to that perception.
Byram is stepping in as Chicago’s No. 1 defenseman after he was acquired in a commerce with the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night time. The Blackhawks despatched the No. 4 and No. 45 picks within the NHL draft and defenseman Louis Crevier to the Sabres for Byram and bodily ahead Jordan Greenway.
“To be honest, I feel like I’ve just been preparing for an opportunity like this for a long time,” Byram mentioned Wednesday.
Byram, who simply turned 25 on June 13, had 11 objectives and a career-high 42 factors for Buffalo final season. He was a part of a robust group of defensemen who helped the Sabres to the Atlantic Division title and the franchise’s first playoff look for the reason that 2010-11 season.
But Byram has by no means been the highest defenseman on his NHL crew. He performed with Cale Makar in Colorado at first of his profession and Rasmus Dahlin in Buffalo. He is also eligible for free company after this season, placing him in line for a profitable extension earlier than he fits up for his first recreation with Chicago.
“I think at the end of the day, I can’t get too carried away with anything,” Byram mentioned. “I’ve just got to come in and prove what I can do. I know that I’m confident in myself. You know I feel that, after this move, the Blackhawks are confident in me, so it’s a great feeling to have a team believing in you.”
Then there may be the price of the commerce. While the highest ahead prospects doubtless will likely be passed by the No. 4 choose on Friday night time, Chicago might have used the choice on one of many high defensemen — albeit one which in all probability wouldn’t have been capable of assist the crew for some time. Crevier, 25, additionally made main strides final season, ending with seven objectives and 18 assists in 78 video games.
The Blackhawks haven’t made a postseason look for the reason that NHL used an expanded playoff format after the 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This was just a value that we put on a really, really good young player in Bo that we felt it was advantageous to move on and acquire for our group,” Blackhawks normal supervisor Kyle Davidson mentioned. “He fits the style of play that we want to play. He fits that the age range that we want to put our players into and have our players grow together within. And so it just made a lot of sense.”
The No. 4 choose additionally might have performed a task find some assist for Connor Bedard on the crew’s high line. While remaining open to a different commerce, Davidson mentioned he likes the crew’s inner choices at ahead. Roman Kantserov, one of many crew’s high prospects, is coming over from Russia after agreeing to an entry-level contract in May.
Bedard is on his option to an enormous contract this summer time. He has skated with Byram in the summertime previously, and the 2 performed collectively for Team Canada within the 2024 world championships. The gamers spoke on the cellphone on Tuesday.
“We’re just both excited,” Byram mentioned. “I’m super excited to get the opportunity to play with him. Everyone knows how good of a player he is.”
Byram’s father, Shawn, performed for Chicago on Nov. 3, 1991, within the final of his 5 NHL video games. The Blackhawks had an opportunity to take Byram within the 2019 draft, however they opted for Kirby Dach at No. 3 and Byram went to the Avalanche at No. 4.
Byram additionally cheered for the Blackhawks whereas rising up in western Canada.
“It’s funny how things have kind of come full circle,” he mentioned.
Byram joins a bunch of promising younger defensemen in Chicago that features Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski — all first-round draft picks who’ve skilled some rising pains since coming into the league. The Blackhawks even have Alex Vlasic going into his sixth NHL season.
Byram mentioned he’s ready to share what he has realized on the highway from the highest of the draft to common minutes on the blue line.
“I don’t think I’ll necessarily try to change the world or anything when I come into the locker room,” Byram mentioned. “Just going to try to be myself. And you know I’m a vocal guy to begin with, so I don’t think that’ll stop in this situation.”
Greenway, 29, had a aim and 5 assists in 40 video games with the Sabres final season. Davidson mentioned the 6-foot-6 Greenway can kill penalties, and he brings a bodily component to the crew’s backside two strains.
“He’s a really big body that can get in on the forecheck and make life difficult for opposing defenders and that’s something that we wanted to improve,” Davidson mentioned.