Rangers Eye Byram Trade Shock

**Corey** (0:00)
On June 25th, the NHL Draft is heating up, and the New York Rangers are definitely in the mix.
We saw some big moves earlier this week, like the Senators trading for Eklund and the Capitals getting Kai-Ru. But the real shocker came when the Buffalo Sabres sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick. This is a massive deal, especially since it's the first time since 2008 that a top five draft pick has been traded. Turns out, the Rangers were also heavily pursuing Byram. NHL insider Elliott Friedman mentioned that Buffalo was talking to both Chicago and New York, and possibly San Jose too.
It seems like the Sabres played those teams off each other, getting the best possible offer for Byram, which ended up being that fourth overall pick from Chicago. Byram is a solid defenseman, but he was a bit blocked in Buffalo with their strong defensive core. Plus, he's due for a new contract soon. If the Rangers had given up their fifth overall pick for him and then signed him to a big deal, fans would have been pretty vocal about it. He's projected to get around $9.5 million annually for seven years. He had a career year with Buffalo, putting up 42 points in 82 games. The Rangers' general manager, Chris Drury, has been talking about retooling, not rebuilding, and it looks like he's definitely trying to make some. Splashy moves to bring in talent. With the trade market buzzing, it's clear Drury is looking for a difference maker.
We're also hearing trade talks are picking up for Vincent Trocheck, and there's the possibility of moving Braden Schneider. It seems the Rangers are aiming for a big move, but fans will be watching closely to see what they ultimately give up. From your team, powered by AI, this is New York Rangers News Today. I'm Corey with the story.