Player Discussion Owen Power, LD (1st overall, 2021) Gentle Giant

[Old Navy Goat]

Dimitri is ready to be upset at where Power lands in Calder voting.

It's not surprising as it's hard for defensemen to win especially when someone is racking up points like Beniers

 

[Jim Bob]

It's not surprising as it's hard for defensemen to win especially when someone is racking up points like Beniers

He fully expects it to happen because he figures that people won't actually watch the Sabres and just go off of points and the fact that Dahlin gets PP1 time.

That Power is top 5 in the entire NHL in EV TOI/GP as a rookie is bonkers.

And that he is playing over 5 minutes per night more at EV than Sanderson...

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Dingo44]

These are interesting but it would be more fun to see the player drive. Also, being a car guy, tell us more about what they are driving though I know all about the Grand Wagoneer (and would still get a Denali/Escalade).

 

[Chainshot]

I am becoming concerned by his level of fatigue, both the physical (signs of not being able to get back on plays) and the mental (making mistakes on reads and assignments). The ToI is not good for developing a defenseman IMO. 26:28 tonight is the SEVENTH time this year he's been over 25:00 minutes in a night in 27 games. The work load is too much. It's showing. Don't break the kid, get some help.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I am becoming concerned by his level of fatigue, both the physical (signs of not being able to get back on plays) and the mental (making mistakes on reads and assignments). The ToI is not good for developing a defenseman IMO. 26:28 tonight is the SEVENTH time this year he's been over 25:00 minutes in a night in 27 games. The work load is too much. It's showing. Don't break the kid, get some help.

I actually consider Chychrun as a 2nd pair LHD option, to put Power on 3rd pair and take the heat off him.

 

[Fjordy]

I actually consider Chychrun as a 2nd pair LHD option, to put Power on 3rd pair and take the heat off him.

Chychrun would play in tandem with Power. We still never have a healthy RD except Dahlin.

 

[joshjull]

Chychrun would play in tandem with Power. We still never have a healthy RD except Dahlin.

Your solution to that is Chycrhun. They guy who has missed about 30% of his games and has never played a healthy season. Make it make sense

I actually consider Chychrun as a 2nd pair LHD option, to put Power on 3rd pair and take the heat off him.

Power is never getting 3rd pairing minutes.

 

[Zman5778]

Chychrun would play in tandem with Power. We still never have a healthy RD except Dahlin.

Trading for Chychrun doesn't help the whole healthy RHD issue.........

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Your solution to that is Chycrhun. They guy who has missed about 30% of his games and has never played a healthy season. Make it make sense


Power is never getting 3rd pairing minutes.

Whether it's Chychrun or any other LD, Power shouldn't be playing 25 mins a night right now though.

 

[Chainshot]

Whether it's Chychrun or any other LD, Power shouldn't be playing 25 mins a night right now though.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This.

It looks like he has hit the wall and his play is starting to flag. He isn't getting in on the pinch much, hasn't had many plays where he is making himself available as a rotation into the slot. It's just all at the blueline and slow feet getting back over and over. He needs fewer minutes, full stop.

And defensively... bad reads that look like mental fatigue. His lines aren't crisp. But his footwork has started to suffer both closing with a check and moving himself out of trouble.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Trading for Chychrun doesn't help the whole healthy RHD issue.........

Doing nothing may have a worse overall impact to the team.

Any move they make is going to make significant downside risk. Eventually you have to take a risk. I hate making moves out of desperation but eventually you have to do something, and you can only play the cards you're dealt. A Chychrun card is on the table and basically nothing else.

At this point he might as well wait til the offseason since the season is shot but he eventually has to address some of the the glaring needs before the vibes take a serious hit.

 

[Fjordy]

Your solution to that is Chycrhun. They guy who has missed about 30% of his games and has never played a healthy season. Make it make sense

Trading for Chychrun doesn't help the whole healthy RHD issue.........

Just the calculation that one of Chychrun, Joki and Boosh will be healthy while the others are being treated, and then in a circle.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Doing nothing may have a worse overall impact to the team.

Any move they make is going to make significant downside risk. Eventually you have to take a risk. I hate making moves out of desperation but eventually you have to do something, and you can only play the cards you're dealt. A Chychrun card is on the table and basically nothing else.

At this point he might as well wait til the offseason since the season is shot but he eventually has to address some of the the glaring needs before the vibes take a serious hit.

With the state of the D-man prospect pool, it almost is a state of desperation. Development and patience is required overall, but there is no other solution with Bryson, Fitz, Pilut, and an injured Lyubushkin ruining the bottom 3-4 roster spots.

 

[Fjordy]

With the state of the D-man prospect pool, it almost is a state of desperation. Development and patience is required overall, but there is no other solution with Bryson, Fitz, Pilut, and an injured Lyubushkin ruining the bottom 3-4 roster spots.

And Joki, get hurt too often.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

And Joki, get hurt too often.

Maybe, but I care about Jokiharju developing into a better player. I don't care what those other four players do or end up as...they aren't long-term solutions unless it's Lyubushkinh as a 7th or 8th guy.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This.

It looks like he has hit the wall and his play is starting to flag. He isn't getting in on the pinch much, hasn't had many plays where he is making himself available as a rotation into the slot. It's just all at the blueline and slow feet getting back over and over. He needs fewer minutes, full stop.

And defensively... bad reads that look like mental fatigue. His lines aren't crisp. But his footwork has started to suffer both closing with a check and moving himself out of trouble.

I was ok with the minutes he was getting for the first 10-15 games, but at some point toward the end of or just after the 8 game nose dive, the bottom 3 got less time and Power went up to 25ish. He was over 25 mins just twice in games 1-14, and over 25 mins six times in games 15-28. It's a combination of the bottom pairs being crap and Power cleaning up his mistakes, but it's just not viable to expect him to log 25/g the rest of the season.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

With the state of the D-man prospect pool, it almost is a state of desperation. Development and patience is required overall, but there is no other solution with Bryson, Fitz, Pilut, and an injured Lyubushkin ruining the bottom 3-4 roster spots.

To expand, we can see that an upgrade is necessary over Bryson, Fitz, Pilut. Their development is irrelevant to me now. Trade/demote one and bring in a core player that will need time to develop as a Sabre. In that respect, patience is not a virtue.

 

[joshjull]

Whether it's Chychrun or any other LD, Power shouldn't be playing 25 mins a night right now though.

He will play a ton of minutes even if we acquire Chychrun tomorrow.

I really don’t get the confusion on this. They are pushing him in a development season. One where he has been getting better and better. He’s certainly much better than he was to start the year.

Not to mention whats with this full court press about him today. He just played 3 games in 4 nights at the end of a back to back and he did it without his partner. Someone he had been playing very well with the last couple weeks. Instead he was with Bryson, Clague, etc. Tired or not thats going to lead to his pairing to struggle. Not much different than Tage struggling losing his wing man in Skinner.


Power is adapting to his first ever professional season in the best league in the world. He also needs to get stronger since he is built like a beanpole (like Tage used to be). even with all that he has been fantastic for the most part. I’m not too worried about him struggling at times in these types of games.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

He will play a ton of minutes even if we acquire Chychrun tomorrow.

I really don’t get the confusion on this. They are pushing him in a development season. One where he has been getting better and better. He’s certainly much better than he was to start the year.

Not to mention whats with this full court press about him today. He just played 3 games in 4 nights at the end of a back to back and he did it without his partner. Someone he had been playing very well with the last couple weeks. Instead he was with Bryson, Clague, etc. Tired or not thats going to lead to his pairing to struggle. Not much different than Tage struggling losing his wing man in Skinner.


Power is adapting to his first ever professional season in the best league in the world. He also needs to get stronger since he is built like a beanpole (like Tage used to be). even with all that he has been fantastic for the most part. I’m not too worried about him struggling at times in these types of games.

I'm a lot less worried about him struggling play wise, as opposed to struggling (as a young bean pole) physically over a full season and having any negative effects to his development as a result. There aren't many D-men playing 25 mins/g, Power shouldn't be as a rookie. The bottom three guys are trash that need to be replaced anyway. Go do that and benefit from the side effect of reducing Power's mins to a reasonable 20-22/g.

 

[joshjull]

I'm a lot less worried about him struggling play wise, as opposed to struggling (as a young bean pole) physically over a full season and having any negative effects to his development as a result. There aren't many D-men playing 25 mins/g, Power shouldn't be as a rookie. The bottom three guys are trash that need to be replaced anyway. Go do that and benefit from the side effect of reducing Power's mins to a reasonable 20-22/g.

I’m not worried about his development because of the coaching staff.

We should look for better options at the bottom. But those top 4 guys will still play a ton. Its part of the plan for the season. They’re not trading for guys to move away from that.

 

[Beerz]

What are we hoping this guy turns into? Cause I'm not seeing #1 overall talent.

 

[Aladyyn]

What are we hoping this guy turns into? Cause I'm not seeing #1 overall talent.

He's playing like a top pairing defenseman at 20 years old...

 

[Beerz]

He's playing like a top pairing defenseman at 20 years old...

This isn't a knock on his play.. I think he's played fine for a 20 yr old..

I just don't see the talent that we are waiting to develop

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Just for FYI... he's at 23:44 ATOI, ranking #26 league wide.