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

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Two thoughts on the Power video:

Do you really think the Sabres are going to publish anything other than bland analysis? Of course we're getting general, relatively vague answers. Did you expect Forton to say: "according to our internal metrics, he places high in these areas..." Why would a team disclose even a shred of internal information?

As far as Forton's answer about Power, and how he knows...... as a coach, I'm completely comfortable with that answer. I've coached kids with an insane amount of talent but I don't play them in the final minutes of a tight game, because I can't count on them to do the right thing. And I've got less talented kids, who I can count on, and I play them in tight situations. When you peel it back, it is about character and coachability.

I'm the guy who wanted Beniers, but I can see that if Power was given key ice time at the IIHF WC's, he's clearly gained the trust of the coaching staff to do the right thing at the right times. At that level, coaches don't just hand out ice time because a player has sheer talent. Especially 18 year olds.
 
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Zman5778 said:
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.
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I mean I could be being too nitpicky as well. Wouldn't be my first rodeo. :)
 
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Archie Lee said:
I think the individual with the survival mindset was Krueger. That's what held Dahlin back more than anything.
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Being asked to play a safe game by Krueger took Dahlin away from his natural instincts as a player.

Regardless of what posters feel about Krueger. Dahlin does have to “survive” in his coaches systemic approach if he wants to play meaningful minutes.

Most young players will try to conform their coaches demands even if it its counter to their skill set. Sometimes vets will not, Skinner being an example under Krueger.
 
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Der Jaeger said:
Two thoughts on the Power video:

Do you really think the Sabres are going to publish anything other than bland analysis? Of course we're getting general, relatively vague answers. Did you expect Forton to say: "according to our internal metrics, he places high in these areas..." Why would a team disclose even a shred of internal information?

As far as Forton's answer about Power, and how he knows...... as a coach, I'm completely comfortable with that answer. I've coached kids with an insane amount of talent but I don't play them in the final minutes of a tight game, because I can't count on them to do the right thing. And I've got less talented kids, who I can count on, and I play them in tight situations. When you peel it back, it is about character and coachability.

I'm the guy who wanted Beniers, but I can see that if Power was given key ice time at the IIHF WC's, he's clearly gained the trust of the coaching staff to do the right thing at the right times. At that level, coaches don't just hand out ice time because a player has sheer talent. Especially 18 year olds.
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There's a counterpoint to your post. What if say, the rst of the options the coach has aren't up to snuff and Power is the lesser of evils? As the saying goes.

Just something to ponder. There were 6 options for 2 slots at the end of a game for d pair. Coach thinks shitty of two in that spot. Thinks equally of the other 4 in that spot for doing the right thing. But Power has the best talent so he gets the edge. It's not unthinkable for this to be the case. Doesn't equate to high confidence. Just not negative in relation to a grand total of 5 other players(4 though since there are 2 spots)
 
JThorne said:
There's a counterpoint to your post. What if say, the rst of the options the coach has aren't up to snuff and Power is the lesser of evils? As the saying goes.

Just something to ponder. There were 6 options for 2 slots at the end of a game for d pair. Coach thinks shitty of two in that spot. Thinks equally of the other 4 in that spot for doing the right thing. But Power has the best talent so he gets the edge. It's not unthinkable for this to be the case. Doesn't equate to high confidence. Just not negative in relation to a grand total of 5 other players(4 though since there are 2 spots)
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I don't think that applies well from juniors and NCAA on up. Relatively speaking, none of the player options are "$hitty."
 
Der Jaeger said:
I don't think that applies well from juniors and NCAA on up. Relatively speaking, none of the player options are "$hitty."
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You're taking what I said too literal. Say a "reliably smart, end of game defender" rates a 90 or above in that department. Of the 6 options, Power could be tied with someone else at 65, where the other options are 50s. 50 isn't shitty. But it isn't as good as 65. That's my point. It doesn't mean End of game defender must be good! Just the best out of the available options. That argument doesn't hold water.

Could Power actually be an excellent end of game decision making defender? Absolutely. But it isn't a given when taking the fact that he's out there. Perfect example from the past handful of years here. Ristolainen wasn't the greatest defender. But he was ridden like he was. Would you unequivocally say he was a great defender because of his TOI? No. So don't equate Power's end of game ice time to be a great one.

Unless it's heard from the horse's mouth and backed up with data, it's all just conjecture.
 
JThorne said:
You're taking what I said too literal. Say a "reliably smart, end of game defender" rates a 90 or above in that department. Of the 6 options, Power could be tied with someone else at 65, where the other options are 50s. 50 isn't shitty. But it isn't as good as 65. That's my point. It doesn't mean End of game defender must be good! Just the best out of the available options. That argument doesn't hold water.

Could Power actually be an excellent end of game decision making defender? Absolutely. But it isn't a given when taking the fact that he's out there. Perfect example from the past handful of years here. Ristolainen wasn't the greatest defender. But he was ridden like he was. Would you unequivocally say he was a great defender because of his TOI? No. So don't equate Power's end of game ice time to be a great one.

Unless it's heard from the horse's mouth and backed up with data, it's all just conjecture.
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this also isn’t EA hockey. It stands to reason that an 18 year older kid earning ice time over NHL veterans during tough minutes is a lot different than the Ristolainen situation and says a lot about his overall reliability.
 
Fine, you're right. You're never wrong. It's inconceivable you could possibly be mistaken about anything, ever. I will now run every post I ever make by you for your approval.

JFC man, stop. It's just a damn counterpoint. You keep trying to prove the unprovable here.
 
JThorne said:
Fine, you're right. You're never wrong. It's inconceivable you could possibly be mistaken about anything, ever. I will now run every post I ever make by you for your approval.

JFC man, stop. It's just a damn counterpoint. You keep trying to prove the unprovable here.
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its a message board. Posters banter back and forth for pages. Half the content here is exactly that. If you’re not up for it, don’t quote people and expect they’ll just say “good point, we’ll see.” That’s not how this works.
 
I never really got that excited about drafting Power. Part of it was because this draft was spoken of as if it was weak overall and the other part is because I didn't research prospects much this year. Can anyone tell me their impression of his potential? Is he projected to be a solid top 4D or do you think he has game breaking potential? At this point I'm happy he's Sabres property but still don't know a lot about him overall.
 
He has more upside than the lack of hype would lead you to believe.

He’s partly the victim of the general “Buffalo can’t have nice things thinking that permeates HFBoards and the hockey world in general.

People will be a lot more excited after he dominates the WJC this year and leads Michigan through the Frozen Four.

Here’s something no one ever talks about, yet has a chance to be true: he can conceivably become the greatest Sabres defenceman of all time.
 
Man of Principles said:
I never really got that excited about drafting Power. Part of it was because this draft was spoken of as if it was weak overall and the other part is because I didn't research prospects much this year. Can anyone tell me their impression of his potential? Is he projected to be a solid top 4D or do you think he has game breaking potential? At this point I'm happy he's Sabres property but still don't know a lot about him overall.
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He's going to have a long successful career but will have the stigma of not being worthy of the 1OV much like Eric Johnson who he reminds me of pre-injury. Basically he'll be a minute munching 2/3D as I don't see the offensive instincts to be a true 1C. Going back to UofM will do wonders for his development both strength and skillwise, and he'll be ready for a couple games at the end of the year to burn an ELC year
 
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Man of Principles said:
I never really got that excited about drafting Power. Part of it was because this draft was spoken of as if it was weak overall and the other part is because I didn't research prospects much this year. Can anyone tell me their impression of his potential? Is he projected to be a solid top 4D or do you think he has game breaking potential? At this point I'm happy he's Sabres property but still don't know a lot about him overall.
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I always think of a really good version of Richard Smehlik. Does all the little things right, can eat up 20-23 minutes a game, nice crisp breakout pass. The kind of guy you want out on the ice to protect a lead in the last minute or the game.

Does that version of Power get considered as a number 1 d-man? Probably not, because I don't think he gets the offensive production. But I would not be the least bit surprised if he's the best number 2 in the league, and for a team that has Dahlin, that's a damn good thing to have.
 
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The above is what I’m talking about. He’s going to be a lot better than Richard Smehlik and Eric Johnson.

He doesn’t have the intimidation factor, but everything else about him is Larry Robinson, and that will be his ceiling.

People say they don’t see offensive upside. He was the highest scoring defenceman in the entire USHL at 17, at close to a point a game.

How many 18 year-old freshmen defencemen have scored at a better pace than Power’s 16 points in 26 games? Cale Makar, in comparison, had 21 points in 34 games as a 19-year-old freshman. Johnson had 24 in 41 as a 19-year-old freshman.

He‘s not Dahlin on offence, but he’s going to surprise you guys.
 
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