Rudolph selected 4th overall by Buffalo Sabres at 2026 NHL Draft
With the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres have selected Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph! Rudolph was the first defenceman selected in the draft.
Rudolph led the Raiders in scoring in 2025-26. The blueliner tallied 78 points (28-50) in 68 regular season games. He also led the team in playoff scoring with nine goals and 18 assists in 27 games.
In February, Rudolph broke Josh Morrissey’s franchise record of powerplay goals in a season by a defenceman, scoring his 12th goal on the man advantage against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
He also represented the Raiders at the WHL Prospects game, where he scored the overtime winner against Team West. The Lacombe, AB product was named a finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year, and was named Tempo WHL Player of the Month in April.
To cap the season off, Rudolph was ranked 5th among North American skaters ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, and is expected to be a top 10 pick in the first round on Friday night.
