Top 10 most impactful NHL moves made this summer

The 2026 NHL off-season featured several blockbuster moves heading into the 2026-27 season, with the Buffalo Sabres among the most active teams after ending their 14-year playoff drought. The Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth-overall pick in the 2026 draft, with Byram signing a six-year deal worth $12.5 million AAV. Buffalo then replaced Byram by acquiring defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks, seeking a more cost-effective option with a similar offensive profile.