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2026 NHL Draft

Buffalo Sabres Select Daxon Rudolph No. 4 In 2026 NHL Draft: What To Know

Buffalo Sabres Select Daxon Rudolph No. 4 In 2026 NHL Draft: What To Know

Buffalo Sabres select Daxon Rudolph with the No. 4 pick. Here's FloHockey's Chris Peters instant reaction to the pick.

Jun 26, 2026 by Tobias Linkin
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2026 NHL Draft Mock Draft: Predicting All 32 Picks In The First Round With Chris Peters And Cam Robinson1:25:01

The 2026 NHL Draft brings together the next generation of hockey stars as all 32 franchises look to shape their futures. 

From elite prospects expected to go in the first round to under-the-radar talents with breakout potential, the draft is one of the league's most exciting offseason events. 

Follow every selection, trade, and surprise as teams build for tomorrow and young players take the first step toward realizing their NHL dreams on hockey's biggest stage.

Here's FloHockey's Chris Peters' analysis on the Buffalo Sabres taking Daxon Rudolph with the No. 4 overall pick.

No. 4 Buffalo Sabres Select Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders

Scouting Report

Rudolph had an incredible season, leading Prince Albert with 78 points in 68 games. He had 27 more points in 19 playoff games as the Raiders fell just short of the WHL title. While the offensive elements of his game are more pronounced than his defending, Rudolph is a two-way player that has the size and mobility to fit into a prominent role.

His ability to see the ice and dictate shifts at the junior level is something that suggests he’ll have a chance to be a high-level producer at the next level when the game doesn’t come as easy. If there’s a knock on Rudolph, it’s that he could be a bit more intense on the ice and add a bit more of a mean streak to his game to be a little tougher to play against when he doesn’t have the puck. There’s a smoothness and quality to his game, however, that suggests he has a chance to be a legitimate top-four performer at the next level.

Projection: 

  • Top Four Defenseman / Top Power Play

NHL Comparable: 

  • Shea Theodore

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