Player Discussion Owen Power, D (1st overall, 2021) Calder Finalist

[tsujimoto74]

I'm not so sure that Dahlin became more physical. Dahlin was mean before, he just wasn't imposing it as much. He would blow some people up as a punk 16 or 17 year old in the SHL on occasion. Now that he's grown into his frame and has the confidence to do what he needs to do out there, we see the hits and if we look carefully, we see him being the stick-mean, a-hole Potvin sort of defenseman who is getting guys riled up to play him.

I would like to see more battle out of Power around the net than I've seen at Michigan. He can and should be an efficient guy to pin people out of the play, seal off the outside by just holding them up to the wall -- and he's got the quickness and hands to take the puck he's just separated and move it quickly which is always good IMO. But his style sets up the classic "if he's big, he must be a mangler" disappointment that has permeated an undercurrent of Sabre fandom for generations.

Even if he doesn't get mean, he's still taking away so much of the ice with his size, reach, positioning and stick skills. Thinking about a left side of Dahlin at 6'3", Samuelsson at 6'4"/227 lbs, and now Power at 6'6"? That's some BEEF.

We'll see how much leeway Power gets there from fans. Myers always got shit on for being a big guy who doesn't play big, but I never see anyone complaining that Tage doesn't hit enough. I'm definitely expecting it to take some time for Power to figure out how to leverage his size at the NHL level, but hopefully Dahlin can help shortcut some of the growing pains by sharing what he figured out about playing defense against NHLers.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

We'll see how much leeway Power gets there from fans. Myers always got shit on for being a big guy who doesn't play big, but I never see anyone complaining that Tage doesn't hit enough. I'm definitely expecting it to take some time for Power to figure out how to leverage his size at the NHL level. Hopefully Dahlin can help shortcut some of the growing pains by sharing what he figured out about playing defense against NHLers.

I think Power won't catch flak for any lack of physicality as long as the team is improving and in a playoff spot. If the playoffs get out of reach (which I doubt for next year) that's when the fans will need to see blood on the ice.

 

[old kummelweck]

If he plays in Buffalo, yes.

0.000001% he signs an ATO with Roch.

 

[Dingo44]

I'm not so sure that Dahlin became more physical. Dahlin was mean before, he just wasn't imposing it as much. He would blow some people up as a punk 16 or 17 year old in the SHL on occasion. Now that he's grown into his frame and has the confidence to do what he needs to do out there, we see the hits and if we look carefully, we see him being the stick-mean, a-hole Potvin sort of defenseman who is getting guys riled up to play him.

I would like to see more battle out of Power around the net than I've seen at Michigan. He can and should be an efficient guy to pin people out of the play, seal off the outside by just holding them up to the wall -- and he's got the quickness and hands to take the puck he's just separated and move it quickly which is always good IMO. But his style sets up the classic "if he's big, he must be a mangler" disappointment that has permeated an undercurrent of Sabre fandom for generations.

Even if he doesn't get mean, he's still taking away so much of the ice with his size, reach, positioning and stick skills. Thinking about a left side of Dahlin at 6'3", Samuelsson at 6'4"/227 lbs, and now Power at 6'6"? That's some BEEF.

 

[Fjordy]

Dahlin now has the most hits on the team, over 100. That's also more than guys like Hedman, McDonagh, Makar, Seth Jones, Pulock, Ekblad. Samuelsson would certainly have done more if he had played as many games, but still, I think Dahlin has become more physically correct, he has a very strong back and he knows how to take a hit correctly. Also, did his legs become stronger or did he just figure out how to better balance.

 

[Chainshot]

We'll see how much leeway Power gets there from fans. Myers always got shit on for being a big guy who doesn't play big, but I never see anyone complaining that Tage doesn't hit enough. I'm definitely expecting it to take some time for Power to figure out how to leverage his size at the NHL level. Hopefully Dahlin can help shortcut some of the growing pains by sharing what he figured out about playing defense against NHLers.

Not for nothing, but I would assert that the smaller set of diehard fans still watching the Sabres are mostly astute enough to get that it isn't size that determining factor in physical play. It's when the 'wagon starts to run that we'll see it.

 

[Chainshot]

Similarly - about 1:30 into this, him laying some serious hits on people

 

[sabres4ever]

Even if he doesn't get mean, he's still taking away so much of the ice with his size, reach, positioning and stick skills. Thinking about a left side of Dahlin at 6'3", Samuelsson at 6'4"/227 lbs, and now Power at 6'6"? That's some BEEF.

Then add Slafkovsky

 

[SundherDome]

Then add Slafkovsky

Don't tease me like that

 

[Chainshot]

Then add Slafkovsky

Just looking at the blueline here. Big will have to come up front elsewhere (and in other threads).

 

[sabres4ever]

Don't tease me like that

Or Nemec for that matter - not for his size though, but what a D corps.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Or Nemec for that matter - not for his size though, but what a D corps.

Warren at 6'5 with attitude

 

[sabres4ever]

Warren at 6'5 with attitude

Both him and Jack Sparkes (6'8", 227) should be available in the 2nd or maybe even 3rd round for us

 

[Jim Bob]

Just looking at the blueline here. Big will have to come up front elsewhere (and in other threads).

This conversation reminds me of how Nate's lax team breaks their defensive unit huddle:

1...2...3.. BIG D!

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

 

[RecycledEichel]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

 

[Paxon]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

Not necessarily. Coach will tell him to do what he does best. It might not take long for him to be an asset even with major weaknesses in his game.

 

[Ehran]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

Power won't have jackasses for coaches to start his NHL career.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

I mean, Dahlin was a top ~20 offensive/transition D from day 1. Other parts of his game took longer, but his development was also obviously delayed---in fact, temporarily put in reverse---by Ralph Krueger.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Several adrenaline fueled games to start followed by replacement level play wouldn't shock.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Dahlin now has the most hits on the team, over 100. That's also more than guys like Hedman, McDonagh, Makar, Seth Jones, Pulock, Ekblad. Samuelsson would certainly have done more if he had played as many games, but still, I think Dahlin has become more physically correct, he has a very strong back and he knows how to take a hit correctly. Also, did his legs become stronger or did he just figure out how to better balance.

Excellent center of balance, knees properly bent, feet shoulder width apart. His center of gravity is low and solid.

And he has the agility and range of motion of a cat. God just doesn't put them together any better than that.

The kid has all the natural born specs to be an elite hockey player. And now he's come into his own.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

No we won't. Donnie knows what he is doing........

 

[Buffaloed]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

Dahlin was almost 18½ when he started playing for the Sabres, Power will be less than 2 months shy of turning 20. That's really significant. A lot of Dahlin's development depended on him getting bigger and stronger. He was 6'3" 185lb when he was drafted and now he's listed at 207lb. Power is 6'6" 213lb. I'd like to see him get a little thicker, but he's starting out more physically developed than Dahlin. Power's background and developmental timeline is a lot closer to Charlie McAvoy's, Cal Makar's, Zach Werenski's, and Quinn Hughes than Dahlin's.

 

[The Blunder Years]

No we won't. Donnie knows what he is doing........

This, especially since Power will have more talent around him and a group that has gelled a decent amount. Dahlin had Beaulieu, Scandella, and Risto.

 

[LongWayDown37]

Some are expecting Power to come in and be a good contributor immediately in the top 4. As amazing as Dahlin is now, it took him years to figure things out. Aren't we going to have to wait years before Power becomes a real asset on the ice?

Dahlin was excellent from the get go. Then the absolute tire-fire disaster of Ralph Kreuger that tanked just about everybody on the team except maybe Eichel. Post Kreuger, Dahlin became even better.