Buffalo Sabres select Daxon Rudolph with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft

Buffalo Sabres select Daxon Rudolph with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft

The Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old right-shot defender becomes the first defenseman taken in this year's draft.

The acquisition of the fourth overall pick followed a Tuesday trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks. Because the Sabres had previously planned to pick at No. 27, the team did not interview Rudolph during the NHL Scouting Combine. Instead, Sabres officials met with Rudolph and a representative from his agency, Bartlett Hockey, in their offices on the morning of the draft. General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen stated that the meeting did not influence the decision to select the defender.

Rudolph, a native of Lacombe, Alberta, joins the Sabres after two seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. In his final regular season, he recorded 28 goals and 50 assists for 78 points in 68 games, marking the third-highest total among WHL defensemen. During the playoffs, Rudolph led all Raiders and WHL defensemen with 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists), helping Prince Albert reach the WHL Championship Series.

International experience further bolsters Rudolph's résumé, which includes a gold medal at the 2025 Under-18 World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the fifth-ranked North American skater in their final report, describing him as a complete two-way NHL prospect and an excellent QB on the power play who can transport the puck with a commanding presence.

The selection adds to a deep pool of right-handed defensive prospects in Buffalo, joining Radim Mrtka, Vsevolod Komarov, Adam Kleber, and Maxim Strbak. The team has also recently added Gavin McCarthy and David Bedkowski via third-round picks and acquired 22-year-old Olen Zellweger on Friday. At the NHL level, the Sabres' blue line is anchored by Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power.

Rudolph, listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, expressed excitement about joining the group.

"The way those guys play the game is fun to watch. They’re all really top players, and it’s exciting to join them."

Daxon Rudolph, player, via The Athletic

Looking ahead, Rudolph will begin his college career this fall with the University of Denver, the reigning NCAA champions. While he believes playing against older, structured competition is the right next step, he hopes for a swift transition to the professional level.

"My goal is to be ready after next year... I think one or two years and I’ll be ready to make the jump to the NHL."

Daxon Rudolph, player, via The Athletic

The draft provided other surprises beyond the fourth pick. Gavin McKenna went first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the San Jose Sharks took Ivar Stenberg at No. 2. The Vancouver Canucks used the third pick on Caleb Malhotra.

Further down the board, the Sabres used the 20th overall pick to select 17-year-old forward Ilia Morozov. The Russian prospect, ranked 10th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, spent last season at Miami University (Ohio), where he was the NCAA's youngest player and recorded 20 points in 36 games.

The Sabres' acquisition of the No. 20 pick was part of a separate trade that sent defenseman Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks.