What this team needs and what Power will eventually become as a player in this league are completely different discussions.
I agree they are two different discussions. Unfortunately, the team is using Power in a manner of what they need NOW, based on what Power COULD eventually become. Meaning they are utilizing him in ways he's not ready yet. He shouldn't be used as a top 4 defenseman right now, even though they think he will eventually get there. I've said my thoughts of him needing to be in the AHL in other posts.
While I agree he is currently a big part of the problem, (and I have repeatedly pointed out that his defense was lacking to one clueless poster who continued to push the false narrative that Power was good on D and was carrying Joker defensively for the past 12 months), to suggest with certainty that power is now a finished product defensively, right after he just turned 21, is criminally ignorant.
While I hold the opinion that he's been bad, and from the original comment about him having a sophomore slump, I feel is wrong, as I feel it's who he has shown himself to be even prior to being drafted, I would think saying he NEVER will be competent defensively is a little too premature for my liking. But I do think that he's not in an environment to change his potential abilities and the level of his play.
Power's transition D is not bad at all. His level of compete and puck battling has increased quite a bit in just one season. I expect the biggest strides in that area to really jump when he is closer to 24.
I've been more than fine with his level of compete, and I feel his puck battling will improve as he gets stronger, but I've never been that worried about that, despite my comments of him learning to play the physical aspect of the game. It's always been the play away from the puck, and the decision making he makes.
He has huge defensive lapses in the D zone and close to zero defensive discipline, which is not surprising playing under a coach that has not put much, if any focus on defensive discipline.
If the Sabres continue to ask him to be a transition monster and rove the way Makar and Dahlin do, then maybe his defense does not reach the next level. Or maybe he is asked to focus on D first under his next coach and he embraces it and becomes a strong two way defender. The skillset and hockey IQ are there. The compete is lacking now, but young 6'6 players often do lack that scrappiness until they get their man-strength and grow into their frames.
Power is not dynamic enough to be a rover. He doesn't have the twitchy acceleration in his game or skating to be able to get to be that player. I feel his ceiling is Hanifin level defenseman. He will just be a large player that can skate well enough to stay in the league, that will play a soft finesse game most of the time.
