The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of questions to answer after just four wins in 15 games.
Yet one question takes place off the ice, and it could answer other worries about their defense. Fans are wondering how long defenseman Bowen Byram will be out.
Joining the Blackhawks roster this summer, he looked like he could be the key to the issues Chicago faces behind the blue line. But his recent injury is keeping him from helping the Blackhawks clean things up.
Byram’s Journey to Chicago
Byram signed a six-year, $75 million contract extension with the Blackhawks over the summer, making him one of the league’s highest-paid defensemen. Previously with the Buffalo Sabres, Byram helped lead a team that ended a 14-season playoff drought.
In their trade with the Sabres, Chicago received Jordan Greenway along with Byram. Buffalo, in exchange, left with Louis Crevier and two of Chicago’s picks in the 2026 draft. It’s another part of the Blackhawks’ rebuild, adding immediate strength to their defense rather than waiting to draft.
Byram came to the Blackhawks excited about his future in the city, saying he’s “always wanted to be in Chicago.” This comes not only from the Blackhawks being one of his favorite teams growing up, but also from the family ties involved.
While his father, Shawn Byram, played only one game in a Blackhawks jersey, Bowen has carried that with him all these years and feels Chicago is where he belongs right now. With this new contract, he can now live out those aspirations.
The Byram trade raised hopes for improvement. As the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 draft, officials rated Byram the second-best North American skater in Central Scouting’s final rankings. After making his debut with the Colorado Avalanche, he quickly contributed to a championship, as the Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup.
He is efficient in transition and fast on the ice. He’s a two-way defenseman who has honed his puck movement and can also contribute offensively. In a preseason game, Byram earned a hat trick and showed he can break past the blue line when he gets going.
With Chicago struggling recently to get out of their own zone, this is a huge game-changer if they can make it work. The Blackhawks’ defense is difficult to watch, especially in high-danger scenarios that goalie Spencer Knight seems constantly exposed to.
So where has Byram been in the Blackhawks’ recent losses?
The Reasons Behind Byram’s Absences
In the 15 games the Blackhawks have played, Byram has appeared in only six. He missed his first game just a few days into the regular season against the Sabres because of a family matter. It would’ve been his first time playing against his former team.
Since then, he’s missed every game because of an upper-body injury. He last played at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins. What seemed like a minor interruption to Byram’s start with the Blackhawks has become quite troublesome.
Many details about the injury remain undisclosed. Byram finished out the game on Oct. 13 with his team just fine, but missed the morning skate on Oct. 15 before the team played the Winnipeg Jets.
The injury type isn’t public information either; however, Head Coach Jeff Blashill said it is not a concussion after fans speculated online.
Adding to the questions, reports circulated over the weekend that Byram did get cleared but didn’t feel comfortable returning. Blashill has since disproven those claims as well, saying that if Byram was cleared to play, he’d be playing.
It’s been confusing for their fanbase, with all the speculation and rumors floating around. Understandably so. People want to know where their top defenseman is, and they want the trade with fan-favorite Louis Crevier to count for something.
What the Blackhawks and Byram Have Decided
As of Nov. 3, the Blackhawks placed Byram on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 15.
He has begun seeing a medical specialist, which may help Byram get back on the ice quicker. He has recently been traveling with the team and joining skates in a non-contact jersey, so he seems close to returning.
With his placement on IR, the Blackhawks called up Dillon Boucher from the Rockford IceHogs. Until Byram is cleared, Chicago desperately needs to step up their defensive game. The lead they blew against the Bruins on Halloween was, no pun intended, scary.
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