By Warren Kozireski, Photos by Warren Kozierski and Janet Schultz
Despite rumors of trading the fourth overall pick acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram trade earlier in the week, Buffalo held on to the selection and added to their growing stable of young defenseman taking Daxon Rudolph from Prince Albert in the Western Hockey League.
A finalist for Defenseman of the Year in the WHL last season, after being the top overall selection in the WHL Draft two seasons ago Rudolph led the Raiders this past year in scoring with 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. He also broke Josh Morrissey’s franchise record of powerplay goals in a season by a defenseman.
“It’s an incredible feeling being drafted by Buffalo in Buffalo; it means a lot and just hearing the applause was a really cool moment,” Rudolph said.
“I watched a lot of them (Buffalo’s defense) this year during the playoffs and the way those guys play the game is fun to watch and…I’m just excited to join them.”
Stading 6’2” and 202 lb., the right shot is heading to the University of Denver this fall. The Sabres did not meet with Rudolph during the NHL Draft Combine held in Buffalo, so did call him over the offices the morning of the first round.
After moving up seven spots in the trade of Michael Kesselring, the Sabres selected 6’3”, 201 lb. center Ilia Morozov. The youngest player in Division I hockey last season at 17 years old, Morozov netted eight goals with 20 points in 36 games with the University of Miami (OH) Redhawks.
To learn the North American style of game, the language and culture, he first came to the U.S. from Russia to play U-15 with Windy City before joining Tri-City in the USHL in 2024-25.
“You watch the testing and it’s pretty impressive; the results are there for the work that’s he’s done so far and he’s just getting started so we’re really, really excited about him,” Buffalo General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said about Morozov.
Morozov finished sixth among all invites to the Combine in Isokinetic Squat with 3.32, seventh in Force Plate No Arm Jump with 19.9, ninth in Force Plate – Vertical Jump with 22.1, tied for third in Right Hand Grip with 181 and second in Pull-ups with 17.
Rounds 2-7 begin Saturday at 11am with the Sabres having three more selections barring a trade in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.