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

[SnuggaRUDE]

College hockey takes some getting used to if you're more familiar with the NHL. It's not a bad form of entertainment; but it's way better if you're affiliated with one of the school imo.

CHL is another story entirely, that's just berserk.

 

[MayDay]

College hockey takes some getting used to if you're more familiar with the NHL. It's not a bad form of entertainment; but it's way better if you're affiliated with one of the school imo.

Yeah, I've always found it kind of odd when people are big fans of college sports teams, when they never went to that college or have any connection to it.

Seems to happen a lot more often with college football.

 

[sabres4ever]

Yeah, I've always found it kind of odd when people are big fans of college sports teams, when they never went to that college or have any connection to it.

Seems to happen a lot more often with college football.

So true.

Friend: I'm a big fan of Ohio State!
Me: Oh, you went there?
Friend: No.
Me: You're from Ohio though?
Friend: No.
Me: Ummm...

 

[Beerz]

So true.

Friend: I'm a big fan of Ohio State!
Me: Oh, you went there?
Friend: No.
Me: You're from Ohio though?
Friend: No.
Me: Ummm...

Not that weird. I was a huge fan of Miami Hurricanes back in the day because they were so entertaining back in late 80s and 90s

 

[MarkusKetterer]

College hockey takes some getting used to if you're more familiar with the NHL. It's not a bad form of entertainment; but it's way better if you're affiliated with one of the school imo.

CHL is another story entirely, that's just berserk.

CHL hockey is fun when it’s the highest level sport available there. Unless you’re in some of the Quebec towns and happen to have a suspicious amount of melanin.

Here in the Soo, we have the Greyhounds and right across the river there’s the Lakers (NCAA division I). That’s a fun arena to watch a game in because the stands are pretty much on top of the ice.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Not that weird. I was a huge fan of Miami Hurricanes back in the day because they were so entertaining back in late 80s and 90s

Im a Michigan fan because I went to summer camp and they named the cabins after college football teams, our cabin was big blue

 

[dortt]

with NCAA players now able to get paid for endorsements, I wonder if we will see more top players remaining in the NCAA as they'd still make a few hundred thousand a year on their NIL

 

[Old Navy Goat]

with NCAA players now able to get paid for endorsements, I wonder if we will see more top players remaining in the NCAA as they'd still make a few hundred thousand a year on their NIL

A few hundred K doesn't equate to millions, and the players making money from endorsements will be relatively small

 

[sabremike]

Also if you go 4 seasons to UFA you delay getting to real UFA where you can get your biggest payday.

 

[joshjull]

with NCAA players now able to get paid for endorsements, I wonder if we will see more top players remaining in the NCAA as they'd still make a few hundred thousand a year on their NIL

I’m having a real hard time imagining NCAA Hockey players getting much of anything.

The few that might make something would still make WAY more with a pro contact.

 

[dotcommunism]

Also if you go 4 seasons to UFA you delay getting to real UFA where you can get your biggest payday.

Not really. Pretty much any NCAA player isn't going to have enough seasons to reach UFA before they turn 27, so they'll be hitting UFA at the same age regardless of when they sign their ELC.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Power needs to do hot tub Twitch streams if he wants to make money while at Michigan

 

[Jim Bob]

Why Owen Power will benefit from playing in college for a year - Sportsnet.ca

 

[Jim Bob]

Sabres mailbag: What's going on with Jack Eichel, and who could have a letter on their sweater

Hi, John. If Owen Power gets into a fight, do you think the arena DJ is going to play “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy? — Jakub V.

You’re officially hired as the arena DJ.[/quote

 

[Jim Bob]

Power impressed Sabres management with his reasoning behind wanting to return to school during a pre-Draft interview in July. Watch the exchange in the video below, filmed for an upcoming installment of "Buffalo Sabres: Embedded" presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. The full episode premieres Thursday, Sept. 16.

 

[Buffaloed]

Sounds like the Sabres will support his decision to have ADR.
"he is a very highly driven, high-character human being that is going to do things his way. He's going to take the path he thinks is best for him."

 

[jc17]

His full presser after the draft wasn't bad, but sometimes forton sounds exactly like those old moneyball scouts

 

[SackTastic]

His full presser after the draft wasn't bad, but sometimes forton sounds exactly like those old moneyball scouts

His answer to KA's question about why he thought he had good character was 100% old school 'eyeball test' nonsense. 'WELL LOOK AT HOW HIS COACHES USE HIM!"

 

[Jacob582]

Just give us the analytics, Forton!

 

[Jim Bob]

His answer to KA's question about why he thought he had good character was 100% old school 'eyeball test' nonsense. 'WELL LOOK AT HOW HIS COACHES USE HIM!"

The question around character is one that leads to an eyeball test answer, though.

That is one of the gaps of an analytical approach to scouting. It is hard, and perhaps impossible, to really measure things like character, work ethic, and how they will fit within a team's culture.

 

[Jim Bob]

Ranking the Best Developmental Programs in North America

Power is at the #4 NCAA Mens program after being at the #1 USHL program.

 

[jc17]

The question around character is one that leads to an eyeball test answer, though.

That is one of the gaps of an analytical approach to scouting. It is hard, and perhaps impossible, to really measure things like character, work ethic, and how they will fit within a team's culture.

Sure they can't be measured with a number, but I think you can find some qualitative statements to be more convincing than others.

Like Sacktastic said, when asked about Power's character the response was the way coaches have played him. It's just kind of a weak answer. First, we know how much a coach plays a player doesn't necessarily reflect their character and, second we know deployment doesn't always reflect ability, see Risto.

Then he says "people don't talk about this kid like they talk about all the other players in the draft". I dont know who the people he's referring to are, but it sounds kind of general, not like he's referring to coaches or the Sabres' scouts.

Its a 2 minute clip so I don't think its a huge deal, but it just comes across as lacking real insight.

 

[truthbluth]

Sure they can't be measured with a number, but I think you can find some qualitative statements to be more convincing than others.

Like Sacktastic said, when asked about Power's character the response was the way coaches have played him. It's just kind of a weak answer. First, we know how much a coach plays a player doesn't necessarily reflect their character and, second we know deployment doesn't always reflect ability, see Risto.

Then he says "people don't talk about this kid like they talk about all the other players in the draft". I dont know who the people he's referring to are, but it sounds kind of general, not like he's referring to coaches or the Sabres' scouts.

Its a 2 minute clip so I don't think its a huge deal, but it just comes across as lacking real insight.

I agree 100%. Nearly every word out of Forton’s mouth made me cringe. I think Power’s bust potential is quite low, but I don’t think his ceiling is all that high.

 

[Jim Bob]

Sure they can't be measured with a number, but I think you can find some qualitative statements to be more convincing than others.

Like Sacktastic said, when asked about Power's character the response was the way coaches have played him. It's just kind of a weak answer. First, we know how much a coach plays a player doesn't necessarily reflect their character and, second we know deployment doesn't always reflect ability, see Risto.

Then he says "people don't talk about this kid like they talk about all the other players in the draft". I dont know who the people he's referring to are, but it sounds kind of general, not like he's referring to coaches or the Sabres' scouts.

Its a 2 minute clip so I don't think its a huge deal, but it just comes across as lacking real insight.

One person that was outspoken about how unique Owen Power's mindset is was former Chicago Steel GM Ryan Hardy.

Ryan Hardy: Owen Power is 'better than people think'

"What makes him so special is his mindset. He's a humble kid, he wants to be great, he gets knocked on that he's not overly physical or whatever the case may be but he's super, super competitive, burns real deep in him, he wants to be a great player, he loves to be coached, he loves to learn and he's a great person."

"So if the Buffalo Sabres pull the trigger there, I think he's the kind of guy that you think you know what you're getting, you think you could see it because a lot of it is obvious and then he's on your team and you're like, 'Wow, this is even more than I ever knew.' You think about a team that is in a crossroads culturally and just looking to get this thing moving in the right direction and I think if you build around a guy like Owen Power, much like it happened in Chicago 15 years ago, it's the kind of thing that can change your fortunes in a hurry."

Why Owen Power has become the clear No. 1 prospect in the 2021 NHL draft

Those who watch Power say he's mobile, dependable, and does a lot of things you don't expect from a player who is 6-foot-6, 214 pounds. His former GM hates hearing that, though.

"It's been very frustrating, a lot of people talk about his size," Hardy said. "I think a good thing has happened in scouting over the last decade or so, where people are no longer saying, 'OK, that guy is big, he has potential, we'll take him.' People question it now, because a lot of these big guys are busts. So he's probably been unfairly labeled by some people in that way. But his hockey sense, his desire to compete, and skill level is really incredible for being that young and that big."

Hardy says there's more that sets Power apart.

"What makes him special is, he's very, very humble, but he's very, very driven," Hardy said. "He's coachable. He always wants more information. He never ever thinks he's above anything. He just wants more and more and more so he can study and become better, and become great. When you have that mindset with that frame? This is the Owen Power draft. I don't think a lot of people know how good he is."

 

[Zman5778]

His answer to KA's question about why he thought he had good character was 100% old school 'eyeball test' nonsense. 'WELL LOOK AT HOW HIS COACHES USE HIM!"

I saw it a different way. To me, Forton's answer was basically something that any of us here could have come up with: Look at the scouting reports and deduce he has good character. Forton didn't really answer the question. Maybe it's because he was on camera.

And I'm hoping like hell KA's reaction to Forton's answer (that giddy grin) is also because the cameras were on.

Maybe I'm being too nitpicky.