Owen Power

Owen Power
Power with the Buffalo Sabres in 2022
Born	(2002-11-22) November 22, 2002 (age 21) 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 played college ice hockey for the University of Michigan. Power was drafted first overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. ^[2]

Playing career

Power grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. ^[3] 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. ^[4] He 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. ^{[5] [6]}

He then joined the University of Michigan for the 2020–21 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. ^[2] He was selected for the Hockey Canada selection camp. ^[7]

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. ^[8] 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 defencemcn in points per game. ^[9] 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. ^[10] He was also named an AHCA West Second Team All-American. ^[11]

On April 8, 2022, Power signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres. ^[12] Power made his NHL debut on April 12, in a 5–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, ^[13] 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. ^[14] Power scored his first NHL goal on April 21, in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils. ^[15]

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. ^[16]

On October 11, 2023, Power signed a seven-year, $58.45 million contract extension with the Sabres. ^{[17] [18]}

International play

Medal record
Representing   Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
	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. ^{[19] [20]} 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. ^[21]

On January 25, 2022, Power was named to Canada's roster to represent the team at the 2022 Winter Olympics. ^{[22] [23]}

Personal life

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. ^[24] He has stated that lacrosse helped him in ice hockey, as he would learn how to find space in the attacking zone. ^[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				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		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				87	6	32	38	26		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018	Canada White	U17	4th		5	0	0	0	2
2021	Canada	WC			10	0	3	3	4
2022	Canada	OG	6th		5	0	1	1	2
Junior totals					5	0	0	0	2
Senior totals					15	0	4	4	6

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
USHL
All-Rookie Second Team	2019
All-USHL First Team	2020
Defenseman of the Year	2020
College
All-Big Ten Second Team	2021	[26]
All-Big Ten Freshman Team	2021
All-Big Ten First Team	2022	[10]
AHCA West Second Team All-American	2022	[27]
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team	2023	[28]

References

1. "U of Michigan won't allow potential NHL top pick to attend Canada world junior camp". CBC.ca. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
2. Quigley, Ryan (October 8, 2020). "A way-too-early look at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft". broadstreethockey.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
3. Ploshehanski, Peter (November 12, 2020). "Red Wings Should Target Owen Power in 2021 NHL Draft". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
4. "Mississauga's Owen Power taken early by Chicago Steel in USHL Draft". Toronto.com. May 13, 2018.
5. Colpitts, Iain (April 28, 2020). "Owen Power of Mississauga named USHL Defenceman of the Year". Mississauga.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
6. "Owen Power named USHL Defenseman of the Year". chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. June 12, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
7. "UM won't release Owen Power to participate in Hockey Canada camp". The Detroit News. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
8. "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.
9. 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.
10. "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
11. McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive . Retrieved April 8, 2022.
12. 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.
13. "Dahlin helps Power, Sabres beat Maple Leafs 5-2". ESPN. April 12, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
14. "Tarasenko's 5-point outing fuels Blues' 6-2 win over Sabres". ESPN. April 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
15. "Okposo, Tuch score short-handed goals, Sabres beat Devils". ESPN. April 21, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
16. Satriano, David (May 3, 2023). "Beniers, Power, Skinner named Calder Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
17. LaBarber, Jourdon (October 11, 2023). "Sabres sign Power to 7-year contract extension". NHL.com. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
18. 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.
19. McNeil, Kristy (May 14, 2021). "USA Picks Beniers, Canada Selects Power for World Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive . Retrieved December 26, 2021.
20. McNeil, Kristy (June 6, 2021). "Power, Canada Win Gold at World Championship; Beniers, USA Earn Bronze". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive . Retrieved December 26, 2021.
21. 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.
22. Harrison, Doug (January 25, 2022). "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". CBC Sports. Toronto ON: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 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. "Why Owen Power has become the clear No. 1 prospect in the 2021 NHL draft". ESPN.com. July 16, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
25. reporter, News sports (July 23, 2021). "Five things to know about new Sabres defenseman Owen Power". The Buffalo News . Retrieved October 20, 2021.
26. "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
27. "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.
28. "NHL announces 2022-23 All-Rookie Team". NHL.com. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Alexis Lafrenière	NHL first overall draft pick 2021	Succeeded by Juraj Slafkovský
Preceded by Jack Quinn	Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 2021	Succeeded by Isak Rosén