Why is Power a bust? I don't watch Buffalo.
I wouldn't consider trading McTavish for Power "giving up on him". They were in the same draft. I was hoping they would win the lottery to get Power instead of ending up with McTavish. Swapping McTavish for the guy I actually wanted in that draft is a no brainer for me.
Is the price between the two worth Zellweger? Idk but I don't really care. You are getting a potential #1 D. And it's not even really a downgrade offensively. Power would be 2nd in points (22), 3 behind Terry (25). Hell, if you combined McTavish and Zell's points (26) it's still only 4 points more than Power. Even if you adjusted Power's stats based on the ratio of Ducks GF/Buffalo's GF, Power would still be tied for 2nd in points on this team.
The Ducks are thin at forward already, but it would put an end to the McT/Z 2C battle. The D is basically set for years and now you can put all your focus on building the forward lineup.
As far as Zell being the next Makar/Hughes, he's very good but I don't see it. I don't think Zell will match Power even offensively. Definitely not defensively.
I liked Power in the 2021 draft too and wanted him if we won the lottery. It was a no-brainer whoever was picking #1. But the more I looked into Power now, the less and less I am enamored with him.
Power's scoring isn't great, it's greatly assisted
Power's scoring rate this year is 0.63 ppg (5g + 17a). Dahlin is at 0.85 ppg this year.
I am gonna compare Power to LaCombe since he might be the defenseman we send back to Buffalo to acquire Power.
It took seven games for LaCombe to recover from his illness to start the season, which he missed like a week or so. From game 8 on, his offense has been on fire: 19 games, 6g + 4a = 10 pts (0.53 ppg rate). That isn't too far off from Power's ppg rate for his season at 0.63 ppg. And LaCombe is doing this on a team that cannot generate offense and he is the 5th best goal scorer on the team. Power is the 9th best goal scorer on the team.
Total goals scored above LaCombe on the team = 32 goals.
Total goals scored above Power on the team = 70 goals.
It's easier to net assists for Buffalo when there's more offensive goal scoring around you from a set number of forwards.
Power is allergic to laying hits
Power doesn't like to hit with his 6'6 frame. He has 13 hits on the 35 games this season.
We need more hitting from our blueline. That's part of the reason we swapped veteran D from Fowler to Trouba. Trouba has 21 hits in only seven Duck games. LaCombe generates more hits than Power for both seasons and in fewer games. This is what has me questioning if I want Power with Anaheim.
Power doesn't tilt the ice
Power's CF%, all situations for the past two seasons is okay: 49.7% last year (48.8% DZone Start) and 50.6% this year (48.1% DZone Start). 50% CF pct is breaking even with shots while on the ice and the higher the percentage, the more shots are generated when you're on the ice. His teammate, Dahlin was 57.6% CF pct last year and 60.2% this year. Dahlin tilts the ice for the Sabers. Dahlin has been tilting the ice since he was 18 year old, with his lowest CF% in all situations for his career at 53.8%.
Power isn't the top pairing guy in Buffalo, which means weaker competition faced. Yet, why is his CF% lower than Dahlin, who his the team's top pairing d-man?
LaCombe's CF% improved vastly from 40.6% (DZ Start, all situations of 60.1%) to 49.9% (DZone Start, all situations of 47%). LaCombe is producing similarly this year to Power, especially now that he is starting less time in the DZone.
Power is a very good shot blocker
He had 115 blocks last year and 58 blocks so far this year, the second best on the team. LaCombe had 129 blocks last year in five fewer games than Power and 44 blocks this year in 10 fewer games than Power. They're even for shot blocking.
Power is pricey for what he is
Power is making $8.350 mil AAV until 2031. Power and LaCombe are similarly like d-men, though a small sample size. LaCombe is making under $1 mil AAV for this year and next. And I don't see us shelling out a long term $8.350 mil AAV to LaCombe for an extension.
The more I look into Power, the more the draft nostalgia fades away. I'd rather keep LaCombe and use the $8 mil AAV on an actual top-6 scoring forward.