LD Owen Power - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2021 Draft)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I guess the only thing I can think of is that Canada is pretty bad in that they usually don't take players to the WJC if they didn't go to the camp. With them doing this month long camp, maybe people are equating this to what they have done in the past and this is why there is this notion that he will not be on the team.

I think that is the speculation, but I think it's extremely hyperbolic. Let's look at the words of the Michigan coach. He would know more than any of us what chances Power has to make the Canadian WJC team. The fact that Canada still wants Power released at some point tells us he still has a chance to make the team. I personally don't think a fitness camp has any real impact on if a player should make a WJC team. There's nothing you can learn. Said as much about that when the NHL had their version of this right before the playoffs. If you are going to make important roster decisions for important games based off practice sessions meant to keep fit, you are already behind the rest of the teams.

But I don't coach the Canadian team. Maybe the coach will hold this against Power. I wouldn't rule it out. At the same time, if he did, maybe the considerations would've been different for Michigan. The fact is that none of us know the exact situation. I personally think Power will be on the team, and this whole discussion will seem incredibly hyperbolic in a month.

 

[ESH]

Everyone just assuming that Power is being held captive in Michigan? I’m sure he was/is part of the discussion.

The most important thing for a young player is playing time and he’s going to get a lot more games in and be able to stay consistent with off-ice training, schooling, and day-to-day life by not having to spend 50 days away.

 

[snipes]

He could also release the opposite. The fact is that none of us know. I think assuming here is dangerous, especially that there's some nationalistic bias on the part of Michigan. It really doesn't make any sense. The Michigan coach is Canadian.

And I see a lot of people suggesting that Michigan is doing something really terrible. Why would anyone logically release an important player of there's during their regular season for a training camp? In fact, I don't see how it benefits the player in any way to be at a meaningless training camp over playing regular season games. These training camps are not important. Never are. The rosters are set in the exhibition games right before the tournament or set completely beforehand. This camp is only being had because of dumb bureaucrats in Ontario and Western Canada that want to lock down their people for their own personal power trip.

If Michigan wasn't releasing him for the tournament, complain all you want. And I'd agree with you. Would you logically want your team to release players for a meaningless training camp? If you're a Devils fan, do you want Jack Hughes released for an American WJC training camp? Of course not. I don't want Lafreniere or Kakko released for the World Juniors, unless the NHL training camp starts after the WJC ends.

As I previously said, a lot of people are overreacting. I'm sure Power will be there when its important that he's there at in early December. Nothing in any statement by anyone has suggested he won't be.

Doubt it. Why should he get special preferential treatment? Not like he’s a returning player from the NHL.

Hockey Canada can move on anyways. There are plenty of excellent D men available who want to be there and do what is necessary to play for their country.

Games against Arizona State are more important though for Michigan and their coach. Sure, maybe Power doesn’t even want to play at the WJC at all. That would be an utterly bizarre stance for him to take and almost unheard of, but I guess that’s a very remote possibility?

 

[snipes]

I don't think it's a coincidence that the vast majority of the posters who are siding with the NCAA are American - not trying to be insulting, just a trend I've noticed.

Again, if Power was from Mississippi and not Mississauga, our American friends would be chomping at the bit to have Power play for the Red, White and Blue - even if it meant leaving school for 50 days.

Exactly, I have zero doubt in my mind that would be the case if the shoe was on the other foot.

Say a kid from a northern state was playing in the OHL (assuming the season started before the WJC) and was refused release to attend the American camp, I wonder what the backlash would be?

 

[ORRFForever]

Exactly, I have zero doubt in my mind that would be the case if the shoe was on the other foot.

Say a kid from a northern state was playing in the OHL (assuming the season started before the WJC) and was refused release to attend the American camp, I wonder what the backlash would be?

It would be HUGE.

Plus, I'm sure our American friends are having a chuckle over the Power thing because if the roles were reversed, I would be.

Again, I'd bet my life, if Power was American and not being released, someone atop USA Hockey would be making a phone call to the Chair of U.O.M. and making arrangements to get the kid released early. That I promise you.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Doubt it. Why should he get special preferential treatment? Not like he’s a returning player from the NHL.

You are open to question the decision all you want. Maybe valid or maybe not, but unless you believe Michigan's coach is openly lying about discussions being had of when Power will be released to Team Canada, it would seem like he will be leaving Michigan to join Team Canada at some point.

 

[snipes]

You are open to question the decision all you want. Maybe valid or maybe not, but unless you believe Michigan's coach is openly lying about discussions being had of when Power will be released to Team Canada, it would seem like he will be leaving Michigan to join Team Canada at some point.

Maybe part of it is the whole being a good Canadian boy and showing up to camp when it starts. Part of the Canadian Way is elite players humbling themselves and buying into whatever roles are asked of them on the National team. It’s been that way since the 1972 Summit Series.

No one is above the team, and certainly not a draft eligible prospect. This isn’t a case of a returning player or a late NHL addition.

Anyways, like I said for team morale they should move on only with guys in camp. Give the invite to someone who truly understands the honour that it is to be invited to play for Canada. We have plenty of good D men that can help us win Gold at one of the biggest annual events on the hockey calendar. Best of luck in the NCAA kid.

I hope Michigan gets utterly steamrolled just like their garbage football team.

 

[WaW]

I guess you don't understand the situation clearly enough. If Power makes the team (which he wouldn't) he would be on the bottom pair and not see the ice. Playing is better than sitting.

Sorry, but absolutely no one wants to miss the World Juniors. You think Byfield would have rather played in Sudbury during the holidays last year as oppose to getting 4th line minutes at what could (and should) have been his only chance to play at the world juniors?

No. You Americans aren't convincing anyone that players would rather play regular season NCAA games than the world juniors, regardless of roles.

 

[snipes]

Sorry, but absolutely no one wants to miss the World Juniors. You think Byfield would have rather played in Sudbury during the holidays last year as oppose to getting 4th line minutes at what could (and should) have been his only chance to play at the world juniors?

No. You Americans aren't convincing anyone that players would rather play regular season NCAA games than the world juniors, regardless of roles.

Agreed. I don’t think the Yanks understand how massive the WJC is for Canadians and especially Canadian hockey players. It’s more popular than the Stanley Cup Finals in Canada.

Holloway got released from Wisconsin for the camp why not Power? It doesn’t add up or make any sense.

 

[dmac7719]

No. You Americans aren't convincing anyone that players would rather play regular season NCAA games than the world juniors, regardless of roles.

NCAA doesn't play games during the WJC

 

[Minty Cowboy]

You sure about that?

As a late birthday, huge body playing in NCAA I’m fairly confident but not guaranteeing obviously.

 

[bigdog16]

EVERYTHING in life is negotiable - especially when you are in demand, and I'm sure there were endless schools vying for Power.

IF it had been ME, the World Juniors would have been a priority and I would have touched base with Hockey Canada during the summer to find out their plans. Then I would have told every school who offered me a scholarship that if I signed, they would have to make every effort to allow me to play - even if it meant leaving early for camp.

If they said no, I would not sign. Eventually a school would agree.

Not everything in life is negotiable, and an NCAA NLI is one of them. Sure he can have a verbal agreement with a school agreeing that he can attend. But you are making it seem like he should have negotiated it in his NLI, which would never in a million years happen.

 

[snipes]

Not everything in life is negotiable, and an NCAA NLI is one of them. Sure he can have a verbal agreement with a school agreeing that he can attend. But you are making it seem like he should have negotiated it in his NLI, which would never in a million years happen.

The NCAA is also a horribly corrupt institution.

“Let’s cancel poor African American basketball/football players for accepting sneakers or a free meal. Only unhealthy meals from a box for you kid. Can’t afford shoes? Walk bare feet to class while giving yourself CTE ruining your body while we make $100s of millions off you on Saturday’s” — Said no one ever except the NCAA.

 

[ORRFForever]

Not everything in life is negotiable, and an NCAA NLI is one of them. Sure he can have a verbal agreement with a school agreeing that he can attend. But you are making it seem like he should have negotiated it in his NLI, which would never in a million years happen.

I'm sure many schools wanted the kid so, if Power was wiser, and Hockey Canada had been smart enough to reach out to Power and tell them about their plans for an early camp before he signed, I'm sure a top school would have agreed to the terms.

 

[ORRFForever]

5 things...

1) If Power was American, the same American posters who are supporting Michigan in this fight, would be pounding the drum to get him released - even 51 days early.

2) If Power was from Mississippi instead of Mississauga, U.O.M. and USA Hockey would find a way to ensure Power attending the early camp.

3) If playing for Canada at the World Juniors is important to Power, he better be looking at other schools in Year 2 to give him leverage because there is no guarantee Covid is going away and if Michigan holds him back this year, they can do it again next year.

4) Hockey Canada needs to do a better job working with prospects instead of assuming everyone will jump thru their hoops.

5) The final decision should be Power's.

 

[William H Bonney]

Question for you, WHB, and I won't argue with any answer you give - I'll assume you're being genuine...

Do you REALLY believe if Power was American, USA Hockey and the University would not find a way to get him on the team - even if it meant leaving school for 50 days?

With the training facility being in Plymouth Michigan, I think it would be a done deal.

I don't know. I believe there would naturally be more leverage to be applied because USAH is far more invested in NCAA hockey than Hockey Canada. But asking a player to be gone from his team for 50 days is unprecedented and USAH isn't asking teams to do that, so it's not really a relevant topic.

 

[FLYguy3911]

A Draft eligible defenseman who got cut by Team Canada at the Hlinka camp last summer and wasn't even on the original U20 selection camp roster has two options:

A) Go to the selection camp and potentially miss half of his draft year with less than 50/50 odds to make the team.

or

B) Stay at Michigan (while finishing classes and taking finals), play the first half of the season while potentially boosting his draft stock with a chance to impress enough to join Canada for the pre-tournament portion of their camp.

But yeah I'm sure his Canadian coach is not releasing him because he's Canadian and not American...

 

[FireBird71]

I’m willing to money on it that Power is where he wants to be. If it was really an issue he could’ve signed in Flint and been at camp day 1

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

After reading this thread I have come to the conclusion that an outright cancellation of the WJC on account of COVID will absolutely destroy the mental health of Canadians. Why is everyone acting like the WJC is a sure thing at this point?

People are nuts if they think that Powers (and his family adviser) didn't have a say in this decision. Powers can leave Michigan at any time to play in the OHL (even if it is two hand touch hockey this year). He isn't a prisoner and many before him have done just that. In addition, Pearson has a vested interest in preserving his recruiting channels in Canada for many years to come. If he wants to keep his job, not only does he need to win games at Michigan today, but he needs to win them for many years to come (long after Powers is off in the NHL kicking ass). There is no way he cuts off Canada as a source of future recruiting talent to win a dozen games in a once in a lifetime gonzo season.

 

[TeddyBare]

His parents dropped the ball naming him Owen instead of Max

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm sure his Canadian coach is not releasing him because he's Canadian and not American...

I don't think anyone said that - you're taking it out of context.

 

[ORRFForever]

I’m willing to money on it that Power is where he wants to be. If it was really an issue he could’ve signed in Flint and been at camp day 1

I'd bet he wants to play both at Michigan and on the Canadian World Junior team. Hopefully that can happen.

 

[ORRFForever]

After reading this thread I have come to the conclusion that an outright cancellation of the WJC on account of COVID will absolutely destroy the mental health of Canadians. Why is everyone acting like the WJC is a sure thing at this point?

People are nuts if they think that Powers (and his family adviser) didn't have a say in this decision. Powers can leave Michigan at any time to play in the OHL (even if it is two hand touch hockey this year). He isn't a prisoner and many before him have done just that. In addition, Pearson has a vested interest in preserving his recruiting channels in Canada for many years to come. If he wants to keep his job, not only does he need to win games at Michigan today, but he needs to win them for many years to come (long after Powers is off in the NHL kicking ass). There is no way he cuts off Canada as a source of future recruiting talent to win a dozen games in a once in a lifetime gonzo season.

If this is his choice, he should man-up and say so. No one would hold it against him and it would put the discussion to rest - it would also save his coach a lot of grief.

 

[William H Bonney]

Weird. Everyone was just assuming poor Power had no say in the decision.

 

[ORRFForever]

Weird. Everyone was just assuming poor Power had no say in the decision.

If accurate, I was wrong. I'm glad to hear Power is controlling his own destiny. If he is putting schooling first, good for him.