The Buffalo Sabres took a swing at the blue line in late June, and early returns are giving the front office plenty to smile about.
With the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Buffalo passed on a few defensemen that had some evaluators expecting other names - Alberts Smits, Carson Carels, Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff among them - and went with Daxon Rudolph. The 6-foot-2, puck-moving blueliner is already starting to justify that call.
Rudolph has opened his college career at the University of Denver with seven points in six games, including two goals and five assists. He’s added 19 shots on goal and 11 blocked shots while helping the Pioneers to a 3-2-1 start in 2026-27.
His game has translated quickly to the NCAA level. The 18-year-old Canadian has handled the added physicality, and his skating is still the trait that jumps out first. In transition, he looks smooth enough to slip past opponents even when it feels like he has another burst waiting in reserve.
Denver has already trusted him on the power play, too, which says plenty about how fast he’s earned his way into a meaningful role. The Pioneers are sitting at No. 3 in the country and are shaping up as a national title contender.
That debut with Denver follows a massive rise last season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, when Rudolph piled up 105 points, with 37 goals and 68 assists, in 87 games across the regular season and playoffs. He has also made it clear he wants to push for the NHL after only one college season, and the early signs are encouraging.
The next stretch, especially the high-pressure games later in the year, will tell the real story about his timetable. Denver has a two-game set against Omaha this weekend.
Buffalo’s blue-line planning looks even better when stacked against the Bowen Byram situation. The Sabres needed to respond after trading Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks when a long-term extension didn’t appear to be happening, and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen came away with more than just one piece.
In the deal, Buffalo got the No. 4 pick, which became Rudolph, along with defenseman Louis Crevier and the No. 45 pick. Kekalainen then moved No. 45 to the Anaheim Ducks in a separate trade for Olen Zellweger.
Zellweger has fit in well next to Owen Power on the second pair. He leads Sabres defensemen in 5-on-5 expected goal share at 57.1%, according to Natural Stat Trick, and his transition ability has shown up right away. Defensively, he hasn’t been a liability either.
Crevier’s start has been bumpier, though that’s not all that surprising given the style Buffalo wants to play under Lindy Ruff. Still, the organization showed belief in his growth by giving him a four-year extension before the season.
Put together, Zellweger, Crevier and Rudolph form a strong return for Byram, especially with Byram off to a rough start in Chicago and carrying a $12.5 million contract AAV beginning next season.
Long term, the Sabres have loaded up on the back end with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Power, Zellweger, Crevier, Rudolph and another top prospect in Radim Mrtka. That depth could even give Buffalo the flexibility to move one of those defensemen, likely Mrtka, if Kekalainen decides to chase help elsewhere on the roster.
A true No. 1 center remains the biggest need, and the team could also use an upgrade in goal after passing on Connor Hellebuyck. Buffalo may not have made the aggressive win-now moves some fans wanted after last season ended a 14-year playoff drought, but the organization has still built a foundation that leaves plenty of reason to believe in what comes next.
In Other News...
Sabres Trade Chatter Just Put Their Goalie Plan In Focus
Trade chatter has been swirling around the league again, and the Sabres have not been immune to it. While the Red Wings are reportedly sticking with Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson despite continued calls from teams looking for young centers, and Washington has opened the door for Ivan Miroshnichenko to explore a move, Buffalo has had its own noise to sort through with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the goaltending picture.
Luukkonen said the message from GM Jarmo Kekalainen was simple: stop worrying about the rumors and keep his attention on his game. Kekalainen also made it clear on WGR Radio that Luukkonen is part of Buffalo's future, a notable vote of confidence at a time when the Sabres are still trying to steady things in net and define what comes next in goal. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Pressure Is Building After Jarmo Missed On A Major Trade
The Sabres have spent enough time circling the trade market to make patience feel like a luxury, and the pressure around Jarmo Kekalainen is only growing as those big swings keep coming up empty. Buffalo had reportedly been in the mix for major names, with the goalie search and the hunt for help down the middle both serving as reminders that the club still has clear needs if it wants to push forward.
Now the focus is shifting to what comes next, and the list of possible fixes is getting attention around the league. Robert Thomas, Ryan O'Reilly, Jake DeBrusk and Filip Gustavsson all fit different needs depending on how Buffalo wants to attack the problem, whether that means adding a center, wing depth or goaltending help, but none of those paths are simple and the Sabres still have to find a deal that actually sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Already Face Heat Over Their Risky Goalie Bet
Buffalo had a chance to chase one of the leagues most proven goaltenders, but the Sabres did not push hard enough to land Connor Hellebuyck when rumors tied them to the Jets star. Instead, the front office is leaning into its current group, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis and injured Alex Lyon forming the backbone of the crease picture for now. It is the kind of decision that can look prudent in July and far riskier if the season starts to wobble.
Lindy Ruff is still showing confidence in Luukkonen, saying the Sabres will keep giving him starts as he works to clean up his game. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its most important position, the choice to stand pat is already drawing scrutiny, especially with a proven option having been there for the taking. The message from Buffalo is clear enough: they believe internal improvement is the path forward, even if the outside noise suggests they may be gambling more than they should. [Read more 🡒]