Another Michigan Wolverine has decided to make the transition from college hockey to the NHL. Along with teammate Kent Johnson, Owen Power has decided to ink his NHL deal as the Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of the 2021 first-overall pick on his entry-level contract. He could join the team and enter the lineup before the end of this season.
Power, 19, was as previously mentioned the first pick of the 2021 draft and has been the Sabres’ top prospect since. Standing at six-foot-six and 213 pounds, Power has coveted physical tools for a defenseman. He has flashed offensive upside to his game and has produced well at Michigan where he had 32 points in 33 games this season. Power had 16 points in 26 games as a freshman. It is a widely-held opinion across the league that Power has serious potential to become a do-it-all number-one blueliner, and he joins a surging Buffalo team that already boasts another number-one pick defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin.
Beyond his exploits at Michigan, Power proved his NHL readiness by being selected for the Beijing Olympics, where he registered one assist. While the Sabres, who are 5-2-3 in their last ten games, have run out of runway to make the playoffs this season, the signing of Power adds another jolt of optimism for a market that has to be feeling very confident about their squad going into next season. With top prospects such as Power and Jack Quinn set to enter a lineup that already posts strong young talent such as Dahlin, Peyton Krebs, and Dylan Cozens, perhaps the Sabres’ NHL-record eleven-year playoff drought can finally come to an end in 2022-23.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the signing.
Beast, shame he’ll waste it in Buffalo.
Haha acting like the Sabres will ever be good
Alright guys keep talking out of your butt.
But the future is bright in Buffalo……
Buffalo should have another top 10 pick (theirs) in this upcoming draft.
Us Buffalo fans are praying for the VGK to miss the playoffs & give us pick #11.
Buffalo will have over $15 million to spend just to get to the cap floor.
Long term the only contract on their books longer than 2 years is Skinner’s at $9mil per (he has bounced back & has scored 30 goals so far this season).
Jack Quinn & JJ Peterka should be playing in Buffalo next season along with Owen Power!
Hoping possibly Erik Portillo signs his ELC very soon.
If Buffalo adds a competent veteran goalie to team up with UPL for next season & add 1 (or 2) gritty forwards to their bottom 6 the Sabres should be improved enough to start challenging for a bottom seed playoff spot.
Oh & we also have Florida’s 1st for this upcoming draft!
+ the Sabres still have to sign D Ryan Johnson to his ELC.
Tage Thompson & his 30+ scored goals this season is slated to make only $1.6 million next season (& he is still going to be a RFA after next season).
Alex Tuch is also signed for 4 more years at $4.75mil per.
Improvements going forward on younger players Olofsson, Samuelson, Dahlin, Krebs, Cozens, Mitts, Joker & Fitzgerald.
+ another goalie prospect in Devon Levi!
Let’s go Buffalo!
And one more thing I’d be heartened by if I was a Buffalo fan: you’d think, after the year (and decade) they’ve had, the team would be mailing it in around now. They’re not. They’re playing hard, and winning more than they’re losing. These are guys who WANT to succeed, and that’s worth something.