Sabres Acquires Zellweger, Drafts Rudolph

The Buffalo Sabres entered the first day of the 2026 National Hockey League draft with two gaping holes in a lineup that was one goal away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals just a month ago. 

Subtracting top winger Alex Tuch and top four defenseman Bowen Byram in the past week, the Sabres were looking to fill those roster spots as an offseason of activity begins. 

On Friday afternoon, Buffalo acquired 22-year-old blueliner Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Anton Wahlberg and the forty-fifth pick overall in round one of the draft. 

Zellweger is known for his puck-moving ability and could get a long look as Byram’s replacement. 

While options were explored to potentially move the fourth selection for an immediate addition, the fourth and twentieth spots were retained 

Defenseman  Daxon Roudolf was selected at number four. Roudolf is seen as a reach, especially with the fourth overall pick. The Sabres point to Roudolf’s hockey instincts justifying the choice. 

“Obviously, the numbers speak for themselves,” said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “He had great productivity in the Western Hockey League. He’s a big guy. Got some jam to him too, grit, plays hard, but his instincts are great. I think that’s the biggest thing we like about him. 

“It’s not just his physical ability, but it’s his hockey IQ. His instincts are great. It puts another really good defenseman into our future.”

With pick number twenty, the Sabres added 6’ 3” center  Ilia Morozov. 

Buffalo had obtained selections four and twenty in the Byram trade, and the exchange that sent Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks. 

“It’s exciting,” said Sabres Assistant General Manager Jerry Forton. “You know those type of players have the ability to make a big impact on your organization.”

The Sabres also added Latvian-born center Olivers Murnieks, Domon Szongoth (a Hungarian-born center playing in Finland), and Right Wing Dylan Dumont. 

In the absence of Impact deals to warrant moving the first-round picks, the Sabres chose to feed the organizational pipeline with an eye toward the future. 

There will be time in the summer weeks ahead to seek needed roster additions. 

On draft weekend, the Sabres kept their eye on the future. 

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