The Buffalo Sabres entered the 2026 NHL Draft as the league’s biggest mystery following the Bowen Byram trade, which saw Buffalo send the former fourth-overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for this year’s fourth-overall selection as well as pick 45.
The Sabres originally held only the 27th pick in this year’s top 50 picks, but after trading with the San Jose Sharks and moving up to pick 20 they got and stayed aggressive. On draft day, Buffalo took the No. 45 overall pick and top 10 prospect Anton Wahlberg, then flipped it for defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks.
Going into the first round of the draft, the hockey world had zero idea as to what Buffalo was going to do with the 4th pick, let alone all their draft capital at the time. Buffalo held three picks inside the top 50: 4th, 20th, and 45th.
There was a report that Buffalo was in trade talks about sending the top five draft slot to the Winnipeg Jets in a package that would’ve sent back United States gold-medal goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Still, the Sabres wanted the 8th pick in return, and the Jets declined the offer, according to Elliotte Friedman.
With three forwards going in the first three picks in the draft, Buffalo had the option of selecting the first defenseman. They decided to take high-scoring right-handed defenseman Daxon Rudolph from Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League in Canada.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said that the team loved his hockey sense and feel for the game.
Buffalo brings in Rudolph with the intention that he’ll help create one of the best defensive cores in the NHL.
“I watched a lot of them this year and during their playoffs, and the way those guys play the game is fun to watch, and they’re all very talented players, and I’m just excited to join them,” Rudolph said.
The Sabres will have to wait for Rudolph as he begins his collegiate career next season at the University of Denver.
With the Sabres selecting Rudolph, many thought they might trade the 20th overall pick for a forward to replace Alex Tuch, but that wasn’t the case.
The Sabres selected Russian centerman Ilia Morozov at pick 20, and he was so high on Buffalo’s board that they considered trading up for him.
The 17-year-old centerman, who was one of the youngest players in college hockey last season, posted 20 points in 36 games with Miami University.
Morozov moved to the United States at age 14 with the goal of one day becoming an NHL player and is one step closer to achieving that dream by joining a talented Sabres prospect pool.
“It gets me really excited; as I said, I believe this program has a bright future, and I hope I’ll help them win a Stanley Cup in a couple of years,” Morozov said.
The Sabres rounded out their draft class with three additional selections in rounds four through six: Olivers Murnieks at No. 124 overall from Saint John (QMJHL), Doman Szongoth at No. 156 overall, a forward from KooKoo U20 (Finland), and Dylan Dumont at No. 188 overall, a forward from Drummondville (QMJHL).
Buffalo leaves the draft without addressing the Tuch situation and completing a trade with Winnipeg for Hellebuyck. The Sabres have just under 11 million in cap space with NHL free agency starting on July 1st.