Bowen Byram's Biggest NHL Opportunity Has Finally Arrived in Chicago
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Ryan O’HaraWed, June 24, 2026 at 9:01 AM UTC·3 min readThe Chicago Blackhawks may have found the cornerstone of their blue line — and it's a player Colorado Avalanche fans know well.
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the fourth overall pick, the 45th overall selection in Friday's NHL Draft, and defenseman Louis Crevier.
AdvertisementAdvertisementFor Chicago, the deal is about far more than adding another defenseman. It's a bet that Byram can finally become the top-pairing force many envisioned when the Avalanche selected him fourth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Now 24, Byram arrives in Chicago with both pedigree and experience. A key contributor to Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship team, he has steadily evolved into one of the NHL’s more dynamic puck-moving defensemen. Last season, he set career highs with 11 goals and 42 points while appearing in all 82 games for Buffalo.
That durability stood in stark contrast to his early years in Colorado. Across four seasons with the Avalanche, Byram was repeatedly sidelined by injuries — including concussion issues — and never played more than 55 games in a single campaign. He missed significant time in each of those seasons, with availability often interrupting his development path.
His path to Chicago has hardly been straightforward.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIn Colorado, opportunities were limited by an already-loaded defensive corps that featured future Hall of Fame-caliber talent in Cale Makar alongside Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson. Despite showing flashes of top-pair potential, Byram became a valuable trade asset, and the Avalanche dealt him to Buffalo during the 2023-24 season.
With the Sabres, Byram joined a young defensive group headlined by former No. 1 overall picks Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Alongside Mattias Samuelsson, the quartet played an important role in helping Buffalo finally snap its 14-year playoff drought last season.
While Byram established himself as a reliable top-four option, Buffalo faced difficult decisions elsewhere on its roster.
The Sabres entered the offseason needing financial flexibility with several contracts looming. Veteran forward Alex Tuch is among six pending unrestricted free agents, while restricted free agents Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs also require new deals.
According to multiple sources who spoke with The Hockey News, there is believed to be more than a 95 percent chance that Tuch will not return next season, a development that would further reshape Buffalo’s forward group as it navigates an increasingly tight roster and cap structure.
By moving Byram's $6.25 million cap hit and Greenway's $4 million salary — both entering the final years of their contracts — Buffalo significantly increased its financial flexibility. The move also gives the Sabres additional draft capital, including two first-round selections and a second-round pick this week.
For Chicago, however, this trade signals something larger.
The Blackhawks have spent the past several years stockpiling draft picks as part of their rebuild, making the decision to part with the fourth overall selection a notable shift in strategy. Rather than waiting for another prospect to develop, Chicago targeted a player who is already entering his prime years.
AdvertisementAdvertisementByram joins a growing young core that includes Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, Oliver Moore, Spencer Knight, and Alex Vlasic.
The Blackhawks finished last season near the bottom of the NHL in both defensive play and offensive production. Adding a defenseman capable of driving play, creating offense from the back end, and handling significant minutes addresses one of their most pressing needs.
Whether Byram ultimately develops into the No. 1 defenseman Chicago believes he can be remains to be seen.
But after years of waiting behind one of hockey's deepest blue lines in Colorado and navigating a crowded defensive group in Buffalo, he'll finally get an opportunity that has largely eluded him throughout his NHL career: the chance to prove he's a top-line defenseman.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
