BUFFALO — With most of Yukon watching and a loud presence of Maple Leafs fans in the stands, Toronto selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.
McKenna’s selection was announced by longtime Leafs fan and Canadian-born international pop icon Justin Bieber.
The draft opened with Bettman getting booed — a draft-day tradition — as he took the stage, and was joined by Sabres forward Josh Doan and NFL Bills tackle Dion Dawkins.
Dawkins referred to Bettman as his “new dawg,” acknowledged both the Sabres and Maple Leafs fans in attendance in leading a cheer of “Let’s go, Buffalo.”
Moments later, the Buffalo Sabers selected defensive prospect Daxon Rudolph.
During the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Buffalo, the Sabres never met with Rudolph, the prospect they selected fourth overall Friday in the NHL Draft at KeyBank Center.
Until a few days ago, the Sabres owned just one first-round selection, the 20th pick, which they snared as part of the trade that sent defenseman Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks. They began the month with the 27th pick.
In the 20s, they weren’t going to be able to pick a youngster as talented as Rudolph.
So after the Sabres acquired the fourth pick in Tuesday’s blockbuster deal that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, their decision-makers sprung into action.
Luckily, the draft is in Buffalo, so they could easily interview top prospects. On Friday morning, they met with Rudolph, 18, and a representative from his agency, Bartlett Hockey.
Hours later, the Sabres drafted Rudolph.
What a day for the kid, huh?
“It’s really surreal for me to meet them all today for the first time this morning and then be selected here this evening,” an excited Rudolph said on a Zoom call. “(It) is so cool and just such a memorable moment for me and my family.”
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Rudolph registered 28 goals, 78 points, 75 penalty minutes and a plus-32 rating in 68 games with the junior Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders last season.
NHL Central Scouting ranked him fifth among draft-eligible North American skaters.
“Being at both ends of the ice is really important, so I see myself as a two-way guy who can play big minutes and be a hard defender,” he said.
The Sabres, of course, have one of the NHL’s best defense corps with captain Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson leading the way.
While he might be a couple of years away cracking the big leagues, Rudolph can’t wait to be a part of that group.
“Just to be able to join those guys is something that really excites me,” he said.
Rudolph plans to play at the University of Denver, which won the national championship last season, in 2026-27.
“What draws me to (Denver) is just the winning pedigree, the coaching staff and what they’ve been able to do not only with their team, but with their players and continue to develop them,” he said.
Rudolph believes college hockey will buoy his development.
“Playing against older competition and stronger, more structured hockey (will help),” he said. “I mean, the WHL was so good for me, but I think it’s time for a new challenge.”
Sabres trade for defenseman
The Buffalo Sabres on Friday possibly found their replacement for Bowen Byram through a trade, acquiring left-shot defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward prospect Anton Wahlberg and the 45th overall pick in the NHL Draft.
The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Zellweger, 22, is a restricted free agent.
The speedy Zellweger compiled seven goals, 22 points, 34 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating with the Ducks last season, his second full NHL campaign.
Zellweger had 162 speed bursts between 20 to 22 mph last season, according to NHL Edge, the league’s fifth-highest total among defensemen.
Overall, he has registered 16 goals, 51 points, 58 penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating in 164 career NHL games.
The Ducks drafted him in the second round in 2021, 34th overall.
The Sabres acquired the 45th pick on Tuesday in the blockbuster deal that sent Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Wahlberg, 20, earned his first recall to Buffalo in February but did not play. The Swede registered nine goals and 37 points in 68 games for the Rochester Americans last season.
He compiled 21 goals and 71 points in 140 games with the Amerks after joining the AHL team late in 2023-24
The Sabres drafted him in the second round in 2023, 39th overall.
— Bill Hoppe