With Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway getting the Buffalo Sabres the fourth overall pick from the Chicago Blackhawks, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to reset one of the defensive pieces and take one of the great blueliners available in the top 10 of the NHL Draft. The Sabres are in win-now mode, but the cap space they gained from the Byram trade could set them up to add a couple of pieces while also adding a defenseman at No. 4.
However, as if a wacky day of trades couldn't get any more dramatic, the Sabres may not be looking to draft one of the top defenseman at all, and may attempt to use the fourth pick on a more certain win-now piece, according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler in his latest mock draft update.
"When I reached out for intel into who the Sabres might consider at No. 4, I got this back from a league source: “Think they might use it for something.” So this circus might not be done. I’ve been hearing the Penguins have been aggressive in trying to move up as well."Scott Wheeler
With so many moving pieces, it would make sense if the Sabres were using this as part of a larger deal, as the NHL world saw this past weekend with the Florida Panthers acquiring picks to complete the Brady Tkachuk deal. Buffalo was a goal away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Final this past season, and adding an impact piece to their already dangerous lineup is intriguing.
An alternate Sabres draft theory
If the Sabres do decide to keep the fourth-overall pick, would they then decide to use it on someone like Chase Reid, Carson Carels, or Keaton Verhoeff if available? While fans might lean that way, EliteProspects' Cam Robinson said not so fast to Buffalo fans, throwing another wrench into any theories of adding a defenseman.
I believe the Sabres will hold onto that 4th overall pick and target a centre.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 24, 2026
If Malhotra is gone, look for Viggo to find his path into the top 5.
Caleb Malholtra may still be available if the Vancouver Canucks talk themselves out of adding him to his father's new dressing room. With Malholtra's rising draft stock, it would be hard to pass up on him, and if the Canucks do decide to take the coach's son, it might set them up for a bit more of a shocking pick in Viggo Bjorck.
Bjorck is a center who was a bit overshadowed by Ivar Stenberg in Sweden this season. After watching his performance at the World Juniors, you can see a world where he snuck up people's draft boards, and the Sabres might be willing to take a swing if they feel like they are playing with house money after this deal.
If the Sabres do keep the fourth pick, the hometown fans at the KeyBank Center are going to have a whole lot more reason to cheer on Friday night during the first round.
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