The Buffalo Sabres had their choice of any defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft class when they were on the clock with the No. 4 overall pick in late June. They caught some analysts off guard by choosing Daxon Rudolph over the likes of Alberts Smits, Carson Carels, Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff.
Sabres fans are starting to get a glimpse at why the team's front office put its faith in the 6-foot-2 puck-moving blueliner.
Rudolph has recorded seven points (two goals and five assists) in his first six college hockey appearances for the University of Denver. He's also tallied 19 shots on goal and 11 blocked shots during the Pioneers' 3-2-1 start to the 2026-27 season.
FROM THE BLUELINE???? RUDOLPH, YOU BEAST
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 24, 2026
That's a @Safeway Goal of the Game‼️#GoPios pic.twitter.com/UtJDB8sQ0m
The 18-year-old Canadian has quickly adapted to the more physical NCAA game, and his effortless skating ability continues impress, especially in transition. He moves with such fluidity that he can glide by opponents when it looks like he's still got another gear.
In addition, he's already earned power-play time for Denver, a national championship contender currently ranked No. 3 in the country.
Rudolph's impressive arrival to the Pioneers comes on the heels of his breakthrough campaign with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. He skyrocketed up draft boards last season by posting 105 points (37 goals and 68 helpers) in 87 games between the regular season and playoffs.
The right-shot defender already declared his hope to make a jump to the NHL with Buffalo after just one collegiate campaign, and the early returns are promising in that regard. How he handles the high-pressure games later in the season will paint a clearer picture about his timeline, though.
For now, the Sabres should be excited about his initial success with Denver, which is scheduled for a two-game set against Omaha this weekend.
Buffalo deserves credit for filling its Bowen Byram void
The Sabres are sorely missing winger Alex Tuch, who was sent to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal ahead of free agency. Tuch, who scored two goals in the Caps' overtime victory over the Blue and Gold on Saturday night, impacted every facet of the game and the club's young forwards have struggled to fill those massive skates through the first 11 contests.
Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, who bet on internal improvement up front, was more proactive trying to replace Bowen Byram after trading the defenseman to the Chicago Blackhawks when it became clear he wasn't going to sign a long-term contract extension.
Kekalainen received the No. 4 selection, which became Rudolph, fellow defenseman Louis Crevier and the No. 45 pick in the Byram trade. He then flipped No. 45 to the Anaheim Ducks as part of a deal for Olen Zellweger, another blueliner.
Zellweger has played great hockey alongside Owen Power on the second pair. He leads all Sabres defenders in 5-on-5 expected goal share at 57.1%, per Natural Stat Trick. His transition playmaking has been as advertised and, at least so far, his defense hasn't been a major weakness.
Crevier has struggled a bit out of the gates but that's not a major surprise since he's less accustomed to the up-tempo, puck-moving style head coach Lindy Ruff prefers with this roster. Buffalo's front office showed confidence in his growth by signing him to a four-year extension before the season.
Getting Zellweger, Crevier and Rudolph for Byram, either directly or indirectly, is a nice haul. That's particularly true when you consider Byram's early struggles with the Hawks and his $12.5 million contract AAV starting next season.
The Sabres should be well stocked on the blue line for the foreseeable future with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Power, Zellweger, Crevier, Rudolph and another prized prospect in Radim Mrtka.
Kekalainen may even feel compelled to use one of those defensemen, likely Mrtka, in a trade as he looks to upgrade other areas of the roster in the near future. A true No. 1 center is the team's biggest need, though it could also use an upgrade in net after passing on Connor Hellebuyck.
Perhaps the front office hasn't been as forceful trying to find win-now moves as the fanbase would have liked after ending a 14-year playoff drought last season, but the organization has still built a sturdy foundation that yields plenty of reason for optimism.
One of the NHL's best defensive groups is the main building block, even without Byram.
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