Former Sabres star dominates first preseason game with new team

Maybe Bowen Byram is a No. 1 defenseman after all.

While it's obviously far too soon to draw a definitive conclusion, the newly minted Chicago Blackhawks blueliner got off to a roaring start with his new club Monday night, scoring a hat trick in the Hawks' 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild.

Byram scored once in the second period and again in the third. The 25-year-old defender then capped off the memorable night with the OT winner for Chicago.

His performance drew a rave review from teammate Alex Vlasic.

"I think there's a swagger about him that he carries with himself," Vlasic told reporters. "It's never cockiness, but it's quiet confidence. I think that's something I'm trying to pick up on as well. It's cool to learn that aspect. I think any of the good players in the league have that type of swagger with them. I think you need it to, if you make a mistake, kind of move on from it and know you're going to make a nice play right after. He definitely has that about him. It's a pretty unique factor."

The Sabres traded Byram to the Blackhawks in June after it became clear he wanted an opportunity to serve as a first-pair defenseman and top power-play quarterback, roles unlikely to come available in Western New York for a long time due to the presence of Rasmus Dahlin.

Buffalo sent Byram and winger Jordan Greenway to Chicago in exchange for Louis Crevier, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which became defenseman Daxon Rudolph, and the No. 45 selection, which was flipped to the Anaheim Ducks in the subsequent Olen Zellweger trade.

Although the deal initially generated praise for Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, and rightfully so since it was quite a haul for a player who could've become a free agent next summer, Monday's effort showcased the defender's game-changing skill set.

Byram has a lot of pressure on his shoulders after signing a six-year, $75 million contract extension ($12.5 million AAV) that goes into effect next year, but his ability to jump-start transition offense and turn it into prime scoring chances is in the upper echelon among NHL blueliners.

It's hard to imagine a better start to his Hawks tenure, even if it was only an exhibition contest.

Buffalo Sabres will attempt to replace Bowen Byram by committee

Although Zellweger has skated alongside Owen Power on Buffalo's second pair in training camp, the spot vacated by Byram, it's unlikely he'll handle 100 percent of the responsibilities.

Instead, the Sabres coaching staff will likely use Zellweger, Crevier and Conor Timmins in various roles in an effort to replicate what the former defensive cornerstone brought on a nightly basis.

Zellweger will likely handle most of the offensive duties, including potentially some power-play work if Power isn't able to lock down the PP2 QB role, while Crevier could join Power on the second tandem for 5-on-5 defensive zone starts. Timmins' biggest uptick may come on the penalty kill, though he'll also be an option for additional even-strength work in defensively focused situations.

The Sabres will hope Zellweger eventually proves himself capable of handling a permanent spot next to Power, but there are serious defensive questions he must answer first.

Meanwhile, Buffalo is hoping for a quick developmental path for Rudolph, who's set to spend this season at the University of Denver.

The 18-year-old Canadian defenseman is coming off a standout campaign with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders, tallying 78 points (28 goals and 50 assists) in 68 games to solidify himself as a top draft prospect.

How he performs against bigger, more experienced college competition will determine whether he's ready to make the NHL jump in 2026-27.

The Sabres also have Radim Mrtka, the No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft, set to play his first year of pro hockey with the AHL's Rochester Americans this season. It's possible he'll be ready for a Blue and Gold sweater next year, but some additional time with the Amerks may be needed.

So, while the timeline may still shift slightly, Buffalo has a bright future on the blue line with Dahlin, Power, Zellweger, Crevier, Rudolph, Mrtka and Mattias Samuelsson, not to mention prospects like Adam Kleber and Luke Osburn, who also possess legitimate NHL aspirations.

Kekalainen may ultimately deal from that area of strength as he looks to upgrade the roster elsewhere, namely in his hunt for a true No. 1 center and perhaps a goalie.

For now, however, the Sabres are hoping their current group can do enough to offset the loss of Byram so the team can make its second straight trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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