Buffalo Sabres: Mattias Samuelsson will be the breakout defenseman

The Buffalo Sabres will have three young defensemen playing their first full seasons in Buffalo, but Mattias Samuelsson is the likeliest breakout candidate. 

In 2021, the Buffalo Sabres made Owen Power their first overall pick. And he did not disappoint, scoring three points in eight games. He shot 20 percent, logged nine blocks, and six takeaways. Power’s cameo was enough to get everyone excited, but here is the cold, hard truth: Owen Power is going to play like a rookie next season. 

He will have his heroic moments. But now that teams know what to expect from Power, he is going to have A LOT of “what was he thinking moments” that will make you wonder whether he’s wearing the wrong set of contact lenses.

Power played in eight career games. Most of them were good outings. But that’s just that: He played in eight games. The kid made a cameo, and that’s it. So let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves with unrealistic expectations.

Mattias Samuelsson will be the Buffalo Sabres breakout defenseman

Samuelsson has just 54 career outings. But unlike Power, he’s also been around since 2021, which gives him plenty more experience. While Power will definitely score more than the stay-at-home Samuelsson, here are few things you can expect from Samuelsson that Power won’t bring:

1. Samuelsson will be the perfect complement to Rasmus Dahlin. So much, he and Dahlin can change spots on the ice in the middle of a shift.
2. While Power proved his willingness to sacrifice the body, Samuelsson does so more often. Last season, he was on pace for 117 blocks in an 82-game slate. That trend will continue this season.
3. Samuelsson will disrupt far more plays next year. Look for at least 200 hits and more takeaways than the eight he recorded in 2021-22.
4. The game will naturally be slower for Samuelsson than it will be for Power. As Power gains experience throughout the season, this will change.

This isn’t to say that Power will play poorly. Quite the contrary. Power will have a rookie year akin to Rasmus Dahlin points-wise, but with around 15 goals and 25 assists (40 points). Power will also steadily improve and play his best hockey following the All-Star break.

However, he will suffer from growing pains in his first full season. Samuelsson won’t see them occur as often. In the long run, Power will be the better, more productive player. But as of next season, Samuelsson will breakout.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)