One of the biggest questions when selecting a player from the college ranks in the NHL entry draft is whether you will be able to sign them. The draw to play for a top university is legitimate for many prospects, especially if they are going to have to wait several years for a chance at the NHL level anyway. But what about for a player that is supposed to go at the very top of the draft?
Owen Power, the projected first-overall pick in this year’s draft and a sophomore at the University of Michigan, was on NHL Network to discuss his plans for next season:
I think right now I’m leaning more toward going back to school. It’s something I’d like to do, try and get the true experience of playing college hockey. At the end of the day it obviously depends on what the team wants and what everyone around me thinks is best. I don’t think there is really a bad option, but I would say I’m probably leaning a bit more toward going back to school right now.
Power, 18, like all of the college freshman that started their NCAA athletic careers this season, has still not really gotten a chance to see what the atmosphere can be like thanks to COVID restrictions. In fact, the Michigan hockey team didn’t even get a chance to play in the NCAA championship tournament because of COVID protocols, removed just before they were set to take on Minnesota-Duluth. While Power had a chance to play at the IIHF World Championship for Canada, taking home the gold medal, he missed out on a lot of what likely drew him to Michigan in the first place.
The Wolverines are also set to be quite the squad next season, with several players expected to go in the top half of the first round and Luke Hughes set to join them as a freshman. Should Power return, he is coming back to a program that will be in contention for the national championship.
Of course, there is also the draw of the NHL. Should the Buffalo Sabres use the first-overall pick on the 6’5″ defenseman, there will almost certainly be an opportunity for him to step directly into their lineup for the 2021-22 season. Not only would that get him on a fast track to a bigger payday after his entry-level contract expires, but it would also give him a chance to test himself against the best players in the world every night. While the talent level in college hockey has improved dramatically over the past few decades, it is still nothing like the skill Power would face as a regular in the Buffalo lineup.
Though these comments may remind Sabres fans of players like Jimmy Vesey and Calvin Petersen, who decided not to sign with them and test the free agent market following their college careers, Power’s situation is much different. Even though he may be leaning to returning for his sophomore year, the chance that a player picked as high as him waits for his draft rights to expire is very low. There’s simply no reason for him to spend all four years at Michigan if he wants to continue his development, so it would likely mean waiting just a single year before he signs his entry-level deal. In fact, once the Wolverines season is complete, he could likely play in a few games at the end of 2021-22 for whichever NHL team drafts him anyway.
The question for the Sabres now is does that potential wait change his draft stock at all. Buffalo is desperately searching for a way out of the basement, but there’s really no rush beyond the ongoing frustration of the fan base. The team is not close to competing for the Stanley Cup, meaning if they believe Power is the best player in the draft, another year in Michigan shouldn’t stop them from picking him.
Could this be…The Buffalo Effect? Hmmm…. Better this than a stink at the draft saying “No Thanks!” to The Fightin’ Pegulas. I’d prefer the latter, just for the theater.
I highly doubt it. The top defenceman of every draft is rarely ready to step in and play right away. As good as Power is, I don’t think he’s one of the exceptions.
@jdgoat – They were probably thinking that at the start of the IIHF Worlds recently, then just decided to fast-track him to see what would happen. I think they liked what they saw at the end. He opened a few eyes, but I’d still like to see him pass on Buffalo.
Matthews was the last #1 pick to come in and not struggle in year one. Maybe this is a smart move.
Avoid that Buffalo roster as long as u can kid.
Well said, Buffalo, where souls go to die and hockey is a steaming pile of offal.
Oh please.
The team played above .400 hockey under Granato as the interim coach & they were also playing their 4th & 5th string goalies under Granato. Plus the team was without Risto for much of last season (Covid), McCabe & Borgen on defense (+ the Eichel injury).
They are talking about the last 20 years, not just last year.
good for them. maybe they’ll be .400 the whole year next year
Murray ended up trading most of his high draft picks for “quick fixies” (Kane, Bogosian, Lehner etc) that did not pan out. The biggest issue with the Sabres is they never replaced Miller in net. Botteril was definitely in over his head examples- ROR trade where he got back only a 1st round pick as anything of value & the Skinner extension.
With Eichel out players like Arttu, Middlestat & Dahlin (who was played to his strengths by Granato) started to find their games. As long as GMKA uses his draft picks in the drafts this team will be on the right course. Definitely getting a Goalie to be a capable fill in until UPL is ready should be the priority.
I’ve always believed that the goal of school is to prepare yourself for the best employment opportunity possible. If going to school makes no difference in your salary, you are risking injury and possibly the best employment possible. I always wonder why NFL caliber collage players stay extra years if they are obvious first-round picks.
Same here. Owen is big enough for the NHL and if he plays a year of college, tears his ACL, well he won’t be #1 overall (and he won’t get the same bonus options), and depending on the injury – it could nag him for life.
Get to the dance and start ASAP
He could and probably would be #1 overall, he just won’t sign until after next season.
I get the idea that an injury could hurt his future, but this isn’t baseball or football. He can go to Michigan without having to re-enter the draft.
He goes back. Gets hurt. So long reliable employment.
That’s my $0.02
You know people come back from torn ACLs right?
It was just an example of an injury. What a stupid comment
He could go to Buffalo and play and not worry about being number 1. That’s Dahlins! That takes pressure off right there! He is exactly the piece Buffalo needs to tidy up the d for years to come! Between Dahlin Power Borgen Bryson Samuelson and McCabe ( plus a couple vet depth pieces that don’t cost much but cover for injuries) their d is looking quite good for years to come! Trade Reinhart for their 9th pick and a player like Hogland (I can’t spell that foreign name lol) and build up the forwards AROUND EICHEL! Silly to trade Eichel! With him Cozens and Mittlestadt were set up quite well down the middle. It’s the wings that are the problem! Side note: how did Skinner earn his contract, PLAYING WITH EICHEL! How to get value out of that contract for Skinner, PLAY HIM WITH EICHEL!
stop yelling
and ur not getting the 9th and hoglander for reinhart lmao
You can have the 9th and Hoglander if you take Eriksson’s contract too
Do not draft this guy