5 – Owen Power
2021-22 Statistics: 8 games, 3 points, 2 goals, 1 assist, 9 blocks, 1 hit, 6 takeaways
Power stepped into the lineup after a two-year career at the University of Michigan and played much less like a rookie than I anticipated. While he made an error here and there, you cannot deny the two-way prowess he showed amidst a small sample size.
He displayed his offensive game with three points and two goals. But he also constantly found himself in position to make plays on the puck, evidenced with his nine blocks and six takeaways. Power also displayed plenty of speed, looking out of position at times before reverting back into position in the defensive zone, forcing opposing scorers into making contingency plans with the puck.
Projection for 2022-23: Power will evolve into one of the better defensemen in the rotation, if not in the league. His 2022-23 campaign will not come without flaws, but look for steady improvement and less stagnation as the season wears on.
Power will contend for the Calder Trophy and he could easily eclipse the 40-point mark. I also expect him to be known more for his defense in 2022-23, constantly forcing takeaways and positioning himself perfectly in front of the net to make life tough for would-be scorers. Power’s current rating is a testament to his lack of NHL experience.