The fourth and 45th-overall draft picks in the upcoming draft will be the pieces that get all the love from the Buffalo Sabres' return for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway, but that doesn't mean Louis Crevier shouldn't take up some of the conversation.
Crevier was one of many young defensemen in the Chicago Blackhawks' system, often overlooked by more well-known names like Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Wyatt Kaiser, and the younger Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov. However, with Crevier fighting for a spot in the lineup with all those defensemen, he managed to dress for 78 games for Chicago this past season.
Buffalo Sabres found Logan Stanley's replacement with the addition of Louis Crevier
Standing at 6-foot-8, it's easy to see why the Sabres might be looking at Crevier as a full-time member of the lineup moving forward. The team valued Logan Stanley after they acquired him at the trade deadline from the Winnipeg Jets, but they'll likely see him walk away as a UFA this offseason. In Crevier, the Sabres could have a younger, more skilled replacement.
Crevier was the perfect mix of offensive ability and bite for the Blackhawks in his first full NHL season. He chipped in 25 points, which is substantial for a 6-foot-8 defenseman who some might view as just a big roadblock with long reach, but he also added 63 penalty minutes, which showed that his gentle giant tendencies from his junior and AHL days might be behind him.
Most Sabres fans would argue that the two draft picks are enough in a deal where it was unlikely that Byram was going to re-sign anyway. However, it's important not to overlook the impact that Crevier may have, especially if he gets a full-time spot with Stanley's role.
The Sabres might've lost a top-four offensive defenseman, but Crevier will fill at least one void in their overall defensive group from this past season.
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