Owen Power

[Chainshot]

He has had a lot of struggles in his second year though his game has improved a bit lately (which may also be the quality of the competition). His passivity defensively - just watching what goes on rather than committing to engage his man - has been a concern since before he was drafted and he still hasn't grown into his body fully. He kind of reminds me of Larry Murphy - not really flashy but puts up points in transition and offensively, easily seen for his defensive deficiencies and sometimes put in the villian's role by fans of his own team.

That said, he did just turn 21 and is still a work in progress. Much of what he does well is understated so it's hard to jump into threads with "ZOMG, did you see that outlet pass!" when it's not really warranted.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Any somewhat rigorous study of hockey player's peaks finds it is between 22-25, if not a bit younger. In the past it was thought that Dmen peaked way later, but most studies have them peaking at 1/2-1 year later, at most, so 23-26.

The average age of Norris winners is a little over 28 years old, so I would be highly skeptical of a study showing defensemen peak before age 25.

 

[57special]

The average age of Norris winners is a little over 28 years old, so I would be highly skeptical of a study showing defensemen peak before age 25.

It's pretty easy to google it. Conventional wisdom about peaks in baseball was similarly off, till Bill James came along and found otherwise.

 

[Andrei79]

It's entirely normal for a defenseman his age, even the most gifted ones. It took Hedman some time before he became the dominant player he was during the cup runs. Power has physical gifts you can't teach.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's pretty easy to google it. Conventional wisdom about peaks in baseball was similarly off, till Bill James came along and found otherwise.

Fair enough, but what are they measuring to determine when a defenseman is at his “best”?

Even if you argue Norris voting is vulnerable to delayed-reputation effects, which is fair, 4+ years difference between perception and reality is a really big gap to be claiming.

Again, I’d be skeptical of an analysis claiming that defensemen peak in their early 20s, when most of them are first getting real responsibility and many haven’t come anywhere near receiving their most difficult workloads. There’s no particular reason to believe that data analysis has captured defensive performances to such a level of precision that it can reliably topple conventional/observed wisdom to that radical of a degree.

 

[Bileur]

You never judge giant players until several years in. It just takes longer to get used to that body and fill it in with proper man strength. They also tend to get promoted faster because they can handle the next level even if it’s not necessarily ideal for development.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Does he get lots of minutes on POWER play?

 

[MNRube]

It's pretty easy to google it. Conventional wisdom about peaks in baseball was similarly off, till Bill James came along and found otherwise.

Physically is one thing. But hockey and other sports are not sprinting or weight-lifting - there is a mental component that is hugely important .

These guys aren’t at their peaks yet when it comes to processing the game, preparing themselves off the ice, positioning etc. I’d take a team full of 28 year olds over 22 year olds any day of the week

 

[Chainshot]

Does he get lots of minutes on POWER play?

He's their 2nd PP point man so about half as much PP time as Dahlin. It's 82 minutes this year vs. Dahlin's 160.

 

[Regal]

Fair enough, but what are they measuring to determine when a defenseman is at his “best”?

Even if you argue Norris voting is vulnerable to delayed-reputation effects, which is fair, 4+ years difference between perception and reality is a really big gap to be claiming.

Again, I’d be skeptical of an analysis claiming that defensemen peak in their early 20s, when most of them are first getting real responsibility and many haven’t come anywhere near receiving their most difficult workloads. There’s no particular reason to believe that data analysis has captured defensive performances to such a level of precision that it can reliably topple conventional/observed wisdom to that radical of a degree.

I think often with hockey as well, the fact league scoring was consistently going down for most of the past 30+ years meant a lot of analysis based off of point totals was inherently skewed toward younger ages unless it was properly accounted for.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Any somewhat rigorous study of hockey player's peaks finds it is between 22-25, if not a bit younger. In the past it was thought that Dmen peaked way later, but most studies have them peaking at 1/2-1 year later, at most, so 23-26.

I wonder how little you have to actually understand about hockey to believe that’s true.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

It's entirely normal for a defenseman his age, even the most gifted ones. It took Hedman some time before he became the dominant player he was during the cup runs. Power has physical gifts you can't teach.

Right. Hedman was average for a good 3-4 seasons untill becoming a beast

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Look, they're not all first round picks okay?

 

[TBF1972]

You just get the feeling that one day he's going to put it all together and rise into that top tier, but there are plenty of warts right now. Young defensemen who are in training to take on top-pairing responsibilities have a lot of learning to do. That usually takes years.

It would help if Buffalo brought in one more solid veteran mentor to shoulder that load from the two kids. Erik Johnson is nice but he's a third pairing guy at this point, and he's on his way out (probably in a matter of weeks). Young players need sheltering as they learn. I have a lot of time for Power, though. He's going to be a really good one.

hedman took a few season's to put it all together. but the wait was well worth it for tampa. patience.

 

[Olliemets]

Look at Noah Dobson. Exploded offensively in year 4. Helped a bit by all the Isles injuries on Blue line which neccessitated him playing 25 minutes nightly for awhile. But I'd say he's over the hump.

Power is a beast.

 

[PB37]

It took Chara several seasons to become Chara. Chris Pronger as well. Both also were traded away from the original team that drafted them too before their emergence.

Buffalo needs to stay patient with Power. Kid has all the tools - he just needs experience and coaching.

 

[Zach716]

I would go as far as trade Knies, Liljegren and a 2nd for him.

Really going all out there

 

[eojsmada]

Really going all out there

It's the 2nd that is the clincher, for me.....lol

 

[Chainshot]

If GM Kevin Adams is trying to move him, Leafs should be all over this. Peak Power, as he was projected before the draft, would be the best Leaf blueliner since Kaberle. I would go as far as trade Knies, Liljegren and a 2nd for him.

Adams is not. The issue is that they didn't have players above him in the lineup and he's already pulling down over 23 minutes a night for his career and he just turned 21 years old. He's had a lot of responsibility and handled some of it well and some has been a struggle. If he's a 14-15 minutes per night or sheltered a bit in key defensive situations, he could have grown through them without his flubs being so public.

Also, I don't think that offer is all that. A 2nd? C'mon man.

 

[Sniper99]

No. Shit ain’t ok

Exactly, dont need to peruse other teams boards to figure out other teams situations when you can simply see it on tv.

 

[Sniper99]

If GM Kevin Adams is trying to move him, Leafs should be all over this. Peak Power, as he was projected before the draft, would be the best Leaf blueliner since Kaberle. I would go as far as trade Knies, Liljegren and a 2nd for him.

Stop playing Be a GM on NHL '24 ok? LOL

 

[abo9]

There is a reason Defensemen don't go first overall that often. They're not unimportant but they aren't (on an individual basis) really gamebreakers the way forwards are. Goal suppression is more of a team effort and they can't really impact what goes on when they aren't on the ice sixty percent of the time, and offensively a lot of their points come from secondary assists and powerplay points. A D has to be like Top 10, Top 5 in the League to be a first overall pick in a vacuum worthy player (obviously if a Draft sucks then a good D is still the way to go).

Sabres have a 23 year old and 21 year old that both went first overall, and neither are busts or anything really close to it, and they still might not be a playoff team. That'd be pretty unfathomable if both were Forwards.

I'd argue that its more about defensemen peaking later than forwards.

Tampa was terrible despite Stamkos being in peak Rocket form and St Louis winning the Art Ross and producing loads of offense. Stankos took 1 season to become a treat to awards.

Hedman took 4-5 seasons to become truly dominant, which coincided with Tampa turning it around (and was before Kucherov's explosion too).

Dahlin was in his 5th season last year and really took off. Power is in his 3rd. It could take a bit longer, but 1-3 years from now both Dahlin and Power should be in peak form. I'd be surprised if Buffalo doesnt start dominating.

 

[57special]

I wonder how little you have to actually understand about hockey to believe that’s true.

Just do your own research. It's all out there.

 

[norrisnick]

Just do your own research. It's all out there.

That phrase triggers a bit of ptsd from the last few years, man...

 

[MNRube]

Sabres decision not to give Power (or Dahlin) a steady veteran RHD frustrates me to no end. They have a million good but not great prospects they could part with