The 2026 NHL Draft wrapped up in Buffalo on Saturday, with the hometown Sabres making five picks over the two-day draft.

The Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph and forward Ilia Morozov with the fourth and 20th overall picks on Friday.

Rudolph played in 68 games with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League last season, scoring 78 points. The 6’3″, right-handed defenseman also added 27 points in 19 playoff games.

The 18-year-old will begin his freshman semester this fall with the reigning NCAA champions, the University of Denver Pioneers.

“The defense in this draft is very elite, talented guys. I’m buddies with a lot of them,” Rudolph said. “To be selected is a good feeling and something I’ll never forget.”

Morozov, 17, scored 20 points in 36 games with Miami University this year. The 6’3, 200 lb. centerman hails from Moscow, Russia.

Rounding out the Sabres’ draft picks were forwards Olivers Murnieks with pick 124, Doman Szongoth in pick 156 and Dylan Dumont with pick 188.

This draft comes after a historic season for the Sabres, ending the 14-year playoff drought and making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens.

Assistant general manager Jerry Forton spoke about the overall processs for this year’s draft. 

“We went through the exact same process this year as a year, that we would have had three picks or no picks in the first round, it certainly got a little bit interesting,” Forton said. “I would have never predicted a month or two ago that we would be picking at 4four and 20.”Â