As NHL teams prepare for the 2026 Draft, one archetype continues to command a premium above almost every other position on the board.

A right-shot defenseman with size, mobility and the ability to impact both ends of the ice remains one of the most difficult assets to acquire in hockey. Every organization is searching for one, and very few are available.

That reality helps explain why Daxon Rudolph’s name has steadily climbed throughout the season.