Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power hasn't lived up to the lofty expectations that came with being the first overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. It's left scouts to wonder whether the 6-foot-6 blueliner will ever become a true game-changing force.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic released the outlet's ranking of the league's young players on Monday, and Power was placed in Tier 3 (future All-Star). He noted some NHL evaluators have "grown frustrated with his lack of physicality and take-charge," while others pointed to his solid on-ice production.
"One scout did say that he'd have Power a letter grade lower, though, so the two groups may be coming closer together," Wheeler wrote. "This feels like a prove-it year for him despite his strong NHL results and usage."
Nobody is doubting whether University of Michigan product can be a solid contributor for the Sabres — he's already reached that basic threshold — but it's unclear whether he'll ever become a legitimate high-end cornerstone for playoff-level team, a status Buffalo hasn't reached in 14 years.
Reviewing Owen Power's NHL career
Power made an immediate impact during his first cup of NHL coffee at the end of the 2021-22 season. He wrapped up his college hockey career with the Wolverines on a high note (32 points in 33 games) and then played his first eight games with the Sabres to finish the campaign.
The 22-year-old Canadian has never looked out of place, even dating back to that first foray into the world's best hockey league. He recorded a pair of goals and an assist, and his ability to quickly transition defense into offense was impressive.
Three full seasons later, however, he still hasn't become more forceful using his 226-pound frame in the defensive zone to shut down plays.
Yes, his offensive contributions have trended upward. He recorded a career-high 40 points (seven goals and 33 assists) last season, and 34 of those points came at even strength, which is a promising sign about his scoring upside if the team-wide power-play problems finally get fixed.
That said, Power continues to struggle defending the front of his own net. The Sabres allowed 11.4 high-danger chances per 60 minutes (HDCA/60) when he was on the ice, which ranked 183rd out of 256 defensemen who played at least 200 minutes at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.
Although it often takes time for bigger players to find their footing defensively — using size effectively against either similarly sized players or smaller, far quicker opponents is a learning process — he's now 242 games into his career. It's time to elevate his game defensively.
Owen Power's 2025-26 season outlook
There are a few reasons for optimism with Power heading into the new campaign.
First, he's healthy after missing the final handful of games last season with a lower-body injury. Last week, he confirmed he'll be ready to roll for the start of training camp.
"It was definitely a little different summer for sure, for me, but all in all, I think it went really well," Power told Justin Alpert of Sabres.com. "Was able to rehab it pretty quick and get back to doing most things in fairly quick time. Now, I'm back to doing everything, and it feels really good. So, ready to go."
Second, the left-shot defenseman knows becoming more reliable in his own zone is essential and it's an area he's aiming to show growth starting in October.
"Defending is obviously a huge thing," Power told Alpert. "Being a little more confident with your body, defending guys 1-on-1 and closing guys. Same with some net-front stuff. All around, you get more confident, you feel better in your body and you feel like you could do more coming into the season."
Finally, Power may finally have a consistent, dependable partner on the second pair in Michael Kesselring, who was acquired in the JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth.
The Sabres have failed miserably in trying to find someone to complement Power since selecting him with the No. 1 pick four years ago. It's been a rotating cast of characters, most frequently Henri Jokiharju, who've made his lifer tougher instead of easier.
Kesselring, 25, is coming off back-to-back strong development seasons and may be ready for a breakthrough in his own right. It could be a match made in heaven for Buffalo.
"Same with Kesselring: I think he was a really good add," Power told Alpert. "Obviously he's massive and moves really well, shoots the puck really hard. I think he's gonna be great for us."
So, is the skepticism from NHL scouts on Power understandable? Absolutely. He's been been a viable building block for the Sabres, but he's come nowhere close to his perceived ceiling. Getting there would give Buffalo an incredible one-two punch with him and Dahlin.
All told, it's time for Power to reach an All-Star level in 2025-26, and then stay there for the foreseeable future.