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Owen Power

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Owen Power
Owen Power 2022.jpg
Power with the Buffalo Sabres in 2022
Born (2002-11-22) November 22, 2002 (age 22)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 221 lb (100 kg; 15 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team Buffalo Sabres
National team  Canada
NHL draft 1st overall, 2021
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2022–present

Owen Power (born November 22, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He was selected first overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL entry draft. Power played college ice hockey for Michigan of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Playing career

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Junior

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Power grew up in Mississauga, Ontario.[2] When he became eligible as a junior player, he was selected by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League in the second round of the 2018 OHL draft and by the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in the first round of the 2018 USHL draft.[3] Power opted to join the Steel to retain his NCAA eligibility as he had already verbally committed to playing for the University of Michigan. As a rookie with the Steel in the 2018–19 season, he was named to the end-of-season All-Rookie Second Team as the Steel advanced to the Clark Cup finals. He was then the 2019–20 USHL Defenceman of the Year and led the league's defenceman with 40 points as the Steel earned the regular season title in the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season.[4][5]

Collegiate

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Power joined Michigan for the 2020–21 NCAA season, which ended with the team being forced to withdraw from the postseason due to positive tests for COVID-19. He was considered one of the top prospects for the 2021 NHL entry draft.[citation needed] He was selected for the Hockey Canada selection camp.[6]

Power was selected first overall in the 2021 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres, though he elected to return to Michigan for his sophomore season, becoming the first number one overall pick to play college ice hockey since Erik Johnson in 2006.[7] During the 2021–22 season in his sophomore year, he recorded three goals and 24 assists for 27 points in 29 games. He also had a team-best 44 blocked shots. Before leaving for the Olympics, he led the nation's defencemen in points per game.[8] Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was named a finalist for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.[9] He was also named an AHCA West Second Team All-American.[10]

Professional

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On April 8, 2022, Power signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres.[11] Power made his NHL debut on April 12, in a 5–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs,[12] and recorded his first point, an assist on a goal by Alex Tuch, two days later in a 6–2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.[13] Power scored his first NHL goal on April 21, in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils.[14]

Playing his first full season with the Sabres, Power registered four goals and 31 assists in 79 games. He led all rookie defencemen in both assists and points, and was voted a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.[15]

On October 11, 2023, Power signed a seven-year, $58.45 million contract extension with the Sabres.[16][17]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Latvia

Power represented Canada senior team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three assists in 10 games and won a gold medal.[18][19] He also represented Canada junior team at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the first game of the preliminary round of December 26, 2021, he became the first Canadian defenceman in World Juniors history to score a hat-trick.[20] However, the World Junior Championship was shortly thereafter cancelled following COVID-19 pandemic spread.[21]

With the NHL opting not to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, Power was one of a number of young players named to Canada's roster to represent the team at the Olympic hockey tournament.[22][23] The event proved a disappointment for the Canadian team, who were ousted in the quarter-final by Sweden.[24]

Following the 2023–24 NHL regular season, with the Sabres not qualifying for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Power rejoined Team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.[25]

Personal life

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Power has an older sister, Emily, who plays lacrosse at the University of Guelph, and a younger brother, Adam. In high school, Power also played basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. He was a three-time national champion in lacrosse.[26] He has stated that lacrosse helped him in ice hockey, as he would learn how to find space in the attacking zone.[27]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Mississauga Reps GTHL 32 9 24 33 12 — — — — —
2018–19 Chicago Steel USHL 58 11 14 25 10 11 0 2 2 6
2019–20 Chicago Steel USHL 45 12 28 40 18 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Michigan B1G 26 3 13 16 6 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Michigan B1G 33 3 29 32 12 — — — — —
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8 2 1 3 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 4 31 35 24 — — — — —
2023–24 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 6 27 33 28 — — — — —
NHL totals 163 12 59 71 54 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada White U17 4th 5 0 0 0 2
2021 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 0 3 3 4
2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 1 1 2
2024 Canada WC 4th 10 1 5 6 0
Junior totals 5 0 0 0 2
Senior totals 25 1 9 10 6

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
USHL
All-Rookie Second Team 2019 [28]
All-USHL First Team 2020 [29]
Defenseman of the Year 2020 [30]
College
All-Big Ten Second Team 2021 [31]
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2021
All-Big Ten First Team 2022 [9]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2022 [32]
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team 2023 [33]

References

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  1. ^ "U of Michigan won't allow potential NHL top pick to attend Canada world junior camp". CBC Sports. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Ploshehanski, Peter (November 12, 2020). "Red Wings Should Target Owen Power in 2021 NHL Draft". TheHockeyWriters.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mississauga's Owen Power taken early by Chicago Steel in USHL Draft". Toronto.com. May 13, 2018.
  4. ^ Colpitts, Iain (April 28, 2020). "Owen Power of Mississauga named USHL Defenceman of the Year". Mississauga.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Owen Power named USHL Defenseman of the Year". Chicago Steel. June 12, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "UM won't release Owen Power to participate in Hockey Canada camp". The Detroit News. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. ^ "How No. 1 overall pick Owen Power decided to stay at Michigan, wait on Sabres and NHL | NCAA.com". NCAA.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  8. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 15, 2022). "Beniers, Power on All-Big Ten First Team; Hughes Shares Top Freshman Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  10. ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Lysowski, Lance (April 8, 2022). "Sabres sign No. 1 draft pick Owen Power to 3-year entry-level contract". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  12. ^ "Dahlin helps Power, Sabres beat Maple Leafs 5-2". ESPN.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tarasenko's 5-point outing fuels Blues' 6-2 win over Sabres". ESPN.com. April 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Okposo, Tuch score short-handed goals, Sabres beat Devils". ESPN.com. April 21, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Satriano, David (May 3, 2023). "Beniers, Power, Skinner named Calder Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  16. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon (October 11, 2023). "Sabres sign Power to 7-year contract extension". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  17. ^ Fairburn, Matthew (October 11, 2023). "Sabres sign Owen Power to 7-year, $58.45 million extension: What this means for Buffalo's future". The Athletic. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  18. ^ McNeil, Kristy (May 14, 2021). "USA Picks Beniers, Canada Selects Power for World Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  19. ^ McNeil, Kristy (June 6, 2021). "Power, Canada Win Gold at World Championship; Beniers, USA Earn Bronze". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  20. ^ McNeil, Kristy (December 26, 2021). "World Juniors Updates: Power Makes History as Canada, USA Open with Wins". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "2022 World Juniors to be played in August, was postponed due to COVID-19". NHL.com. February 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  22. ^ Harrison, Doug (January 25, 2022). "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". CBC Sports. Toronto ON. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  23. ^ McNeil, Kristy (January 25, 2022). "Power, Johnson Selected to Hockey Canada Olympic Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  24. ^ Hall, Vicki (February 16, 2022). "'You can't win if you don't score': Canadian men left stifled by Swedish defence in hockey quarter-final". CBC Sports. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  25. ^ "Bedard, Celebrini highlight Canada's roster at the World Championship". TSN. May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  26. ^ "Why Owen Power has become the clear No. 1 prospect in the 2021 NHL draft". ESPN.com. July 16, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  27. ^ reporter, News sports (July 23, 2021). "Five things to know about new Sabres defenseman Owen Power". The Buffalo News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  28. ^ "All-USHL Rookie Teams Announced". USHL.com. April 23, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  29. ^ "All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. April 24, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  30. ^ "USHL Announces Major Individual Awards for 2019-20 Season". USHL.com. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  31. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  32. ^ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  33. ^ "NHL announces 2022-23 All-Rookie Team". NHL.com. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NHL first overall draft pick
2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2021 		Succeeded by
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