Buffalo Sabres: Meet the five picks signed from the 2021 NHL Draft
By Sion Fawkes
On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres signed Isak Rosen to an entry level contract, the fifth draft pick signed to the organization from 2021.
While the Buffalo Sabres continue to do away with picks from the ill-fated Jason Botterill regime, they have been busy in signing selections from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. And while you won’t see all five players on the ice together any time soon, they will contribute to the teams they play for in 2022-23.
If there is one common denominator about all the picks in the following slides, it is that all but one of them are forwards. But the lone defenseman on this list has already shown us his two-way ability that will only grow as he heads into his first season.
The Sabres also have an incredible talent that was a bit of a late bloomer, and another who can create plays for himself and for teammates at will. They also have a sleeper who may rise through the ranks faster than you might think, and finally, a highly elusive, agile winger.
Who are these players? Let’s meet them, beginning with a face you probably already met.
The Buffalo Sabres top pick: Owen Power
Power is slender, with plenty of real estate to grow into his 6’6 frame. But at 19, he has plenty of time to accomplish this. Power also played in just the last eight games, so it is premature to get too excited over what he brought.
But why spoil the fun? Yeah, he had a few rough moments with four giveaways in those eight contests (41 when equated to an 82-game season). However, Power still scored three times, including a 20.0 shooting percentage with two goals. He also showed he was ready to play in the NHL with 22:05 of ice time.
During the last eight games, Power mainly paired with Henri Jokiharju on the second line. Jokiharju, who spent most of the season on the first pairing with Rasmus Dahlin, took his new role in stride. But the Sabres may look to sign an older, more accomplished veteran to pair with the young defenseman.
Look for Power to continue working his way into the two-way prowess, and 20 goals is a realistic projection. It will also be interesting to see how he fares in his defensive game. In his eight contests, he recorded nine blocks and six takeaways (92 and 62 when correlated to an 82-game season).