The NHL saw a flurry of deals today with the draft looming. William Eklund, Jordan Kyrou, and Bowen Byram have all been shipped off, and the entire dynamic of the draft has shifted, with two top-10 picks moved as well.
But how did each party fare in these league-altering moves?
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Bowen Byram trade
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Byram and Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for picks No. 4, No. 45, and Louis Crevier.
Sabres – A+
For the Sabres, this is a no-brainer. Byram wanted north of $10 million on his next deal, and even with a rising cap, he hasn’t proven he’s worth such a lucrative contract.
The defensive core is already set with Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, making Byram expendable for Buffalo. At pick No. 4, they can select a truly game-breaking prospect, a cherry on top of a fantastic season.
This is one of the best value trades in recent memory, one that will benefit the Sabres for years to come — but there are always two sides to a trade.
Blackhawks – D-
Kyle Davidson knows the Blackhawks need to make a jump next season, but this move is possibly a rebuild-ending deal. After the Blackhawks selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov over dynamic winger Ivan Demidov two years ago, the glaring hole on the roster remained on the wing.
Now, instead of possibly using the pick to draft a forward or trade for a winger, the Blackhawks target yet another defenseman. Rarely are top-five picks moved in the draft, but when they are, it is for truly elite talent.
Byram isn’t that.
The only way this trade could get any worse is if Chicago hands Byram over $10 million on his next deal, which they very well might.
William Eklund trade
Only two days after the Brady Tkachuk trade, the Ottawa Senators are active again, trading the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.
Senators – B
The Ottawa Senators instantly replaced captain Brady Tkachuk’s spot on the left wing with a cheaper and younger option in Eklund.
Eklund, 23, recorded 53 points in 78 games last season. He brings elite vision, tenacity and strong skating ability to Ottawa.
He is also a strong addition to Ottawa’s penalty kill, but lacks the finishing ability to become a truly elite first-line winger. If Ottawa is done trading picks, the team will be worse heading into next season, but perhaps that isn’t the worst thing long-term.
Sharks – A
The Sharks have been overflowing with offensive talent for a while now. Eklund was clearly the odd one out heading into the offseason, and this trade gives San Jose the chance to snag one of the top defensemen in the class at pick No. 9.
Trading Eklund, who has been with the franchise for five years, is a tough pill to swallow. He was the first pick of the rebuild in 2021, and offered a versatility that few players his age can.
Unfortunately, his role on the team was becoming less clear with the emergence of players like Igor Chernyshov, and it was best for the team to flip him while his value remains high.
With that being said, it’s hard to grade this trade until the Sharks make the pick on Friday.
Jordan Kyrou trade
The Washington Capitals acquired Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and pick No. 16.
Capitals – A-
Kyrou is hard to assess as a player. His speed, playmaking and defensive abilities should combine to make an elite winger. There are certainly flashes where he is elite, but there are times when he leaves you wanting more.
With that being said, this is a fantastic addition for the Capitals. Kyrou brings much-needed speed and passing to the top six, and he could be a great fit alongside Alex Ovechkin if he sticks around for one more season.
McMichael saw a 19-point decline this season, but he can be a decent top-nine forward.
Overall, it’s a good trade for a team trying to return to the playoffs without leveraging the future.
Blues – B+
The Blues are in an interesting spot as a team. They’ve done a great job acquiring cheap, serviceable talent, but still lack the elite players to become a playoff threat. McMichael, similar to Dylan Holloway, could thrive with more ice time in St. Louis.
The No. 16 pick is also a decent asset, although this year’s draft lacks the depth of previous years.
Overall, this trade makes the Blues a worse team in the short-term, but could pay dividends in the long run.
