The night of June 23rd was an exciting one for the Buffalo Sabres as the news started to trickle out that Bowen Byram was being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. It was interesting as the news started out with Byram heading to Chicago, then the 4th overall pick was part of the package.
The pieces continued to be added to the reporting, where Jordan Greenway was also going to Chicago, while the Sabres were getting the 45th overall pick and a player. As Pierre LeBrun noted, some players still weren't notified, and Louis Crevier recently shared why that might have been.
While on Sabres Live, Louis Crevier was asked how he found out about the trade, and he explained he was in Italy and it was tough to get the news. "I was in Rome when the trade happened, so it was six hours difference from Buffalo. It was about 3 or 4 in the morning," Creiver said.
"When you're in Europe, my data wasn't working really well, so I couldn't get texts or calls from my agent, but I was able to text Alex Vlasic for some reason. That was the only guy I could text and he kind of gave me a heads up."
Where does Louis Crevier fit on the Buffalo Sabres' blueline?
Louis Crevier was a seventh-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks but has continued to work his way into the NHL and expand his role. This past season, he played in 78 games, and as the season progressed, he saw his average ice time go from around 12:30 to over 19 minutes by the end.
He moved his way up from the third pair to the top pair for the Blackhawks, but that is unlikely in Buffalo. However, he can have an important role for this blueline next season.
Right now, he is expected to compete with Olen Zellweger for the spot next to Owen Power on the second pair. Zellweger should be the favorite, and if he does win it, then Crevier settles in on the third pair next to Conor Timmins.
The Sabres during the season tried to get bigger on the final pair with the trade for Logan Stanley at the NHL Trade Deadline, but that didn't really work out. Now that Stanley is an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to return, Crevier is the obvious replacement and, in fact, could be a better option for them. He skates a little better than Stanley and has a much better shot.
Louis Crevier may not have been the primary part of the trade package in the Bowen Byram trade, but he certainly will be the player who could make an immediate impact on this blueline.
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