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Why Sabres drafted Daxon Rudolph over Chase Reid, Carson Carels with Zach Werenski comparison originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Buffalo Sabres only recently moved up to the No. 4 overall pick as part of the Bowen Byram trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Clearly, they had a plan, because instead of moving that pick again, they kept it and drafted Daxon Rudolph on Friday night in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Rudolph is a high-end talent, but he wasn't generally floated as likely to be the first defenseman off the board, but that's what he was.
It makes the move doubly interesting for Buffalo, which not only moved up but also seems to have known exactly who they wanted all along.
MORE: What the Gavin McKenna pick means for the Maple Leafs
Why did the Sabres draft Daxon Rudolph?
The Sabres evidently loved Rudolph's right-shot, offensive-minded game.
He just played in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders, and in 68 games, the defenseman scored 28 goals and had 50 assists.
He put up 27 points in 19 playoff games, too.
Simply put, they're going for explosiveness with this.
"One word to describe Rudolph: dangerous," Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin wrote on Friday night. "Rushing the puck or especially shooting it with his howitzer, even from longer range, he’s a constant threat to score and projects to be a power-play weapon should be reach his ceiling at the NHL level. With his forward-like instincts, it’s no wonder Rudolph has been compared by scouts to reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, as Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis reported from the 2026 Draft Combine. Unlike Werenski, though, Rudolph is a right-handed shot, giving him some extra value playing a premium position."
MORE: Now comes the tricky part for the Canucks and Caleb Malhotra
Rudolph is 6-foot-3 and at least 200 pounds, per Larkin, so he's physically ready.
He's set to play next season for the NCAA's defending champions at the University of Denver. That'll be a great next step in his development as he starts to chart a path toward Buffalo.
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- It's time to ask a serious Matthew Knies question
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