Rangers were “in big” on Bowen Byram

Elliotte Friedman noted on The FAN Hockey Show that Chris Drury and the Rangers were “in big” on Bowen Byram. The Rangers need a puck moving left defenseman, so this shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Trade cost and contract status aside, Bowen Byram is the right kind of player for the Rangers to target as a 25 year old skilled defenseman who skates well. He doesn’t have the defensive prowess of others, but the Rangers need skill. They can figure out the rest later.

It’s unclear what “in big” means for the Rangers and Bowen Byram, but Byram and Jordan Greenway cost Chicago the 4th overall pick and more. Obviously the 4th overall pick is the prize. We do not know what Drury offered, but I find it hard to believe he’d actually offer the 5th overall pick for Byram, which is why he’s in Chicago.

We can rag on Drury all we want, and for good reason, but it’s more likely Drury was offering other pieces like the 26th overall pick and perhaps Braden Schneider or Vincent Trocheck. There are rumblings Buffalo wants Trocheck, but they are just rumblings for now.