Samuelsson would put Power in the best position to succeed
We also know that Samuelsson helps the Buffalo Sabres win games more than arguably anyone else on the team. He’s the type of player whose “boring” approach to the game makes the Buffalo Sabres a better overall unit, and that will benefit the sophomore in Owen Power better than anyone else in the rotation.
It would be one thing if Dahlin were still growing into his game, as opposed to having already entered his prime. If that were the case, then I would be pulling for Samuelsson to keep lining up alongside Dahlin, and for Clifton and Power to form chemistry on the second pairing.
But with Johnson and Clifton rotating, with Clifton seeing more ice time as the season progresses while Johnson takes more of a back seat, Dahlin still has that stay-at-home presence on the first pairing. This will allow him to create and take scoring opportunities with the puck. Clifton can do the same for Power, as Strozyk pointed out.
But someone with more experience in Don Granato’s system at the NHL level and a proven track record of winning that Samuelsson already has despite just 109 career games gives Power the best chance to shine, at least in theory.