San Jose Sharks Draft Daxon Rudolph at No. 9

The San Jose Sharks are set to select Daxon Rudolph with their ninth-overall pick in the draft.

What happened?

The Sharks recently dealt William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and Brandon Svoboda to the Ottawa Senators, acquiring a second top-10 pick and three total first-rounders.

As of their last game, the San Jose Sharks stood 11th in the Western Conference with a 39-35 record, on a W1 streak.

Why it matters for San Jose Sharks

Experts predict Rudolph will fill the team's right-side defense hole, bringing a potentially dazzling offensive toolkit.

Rudolph put up 28 goals and 78 points in 68 games with the Prince Albert Raiders last season.

What comes next?

The Sharks may also consider winger Ethan Belchetz or defenseman Malte Gustafsson at No. 9, but Rudolph is the consensus pick among experts.

Elite Prospects' Cam Robinson and The Athletic's Scott Wheeler both predict the Sharks will select Rudolph.

Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis rates Rudolph as the sixth-best player in the draft, ahead of Alberts Smits.

NHL.com's Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale also have the Sharks selecting Rudolph in their mock drafts.

The Sharks' recent trades have set them up for a strong draft, with three first-round picks.

Rudolph's two-way game is intriguing, with a booming shot and great breakout passes.

He is committed to the University of Denver for next season.

The Sharks' selection of Rudolph would set a nice foundation on the back end, according to Kimelman.

Morreale notes that Rudolph's all-around game has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.

The Sharks' draft strategy will be crucial in shaping their future, with Rudolph a key part of their plans.