Sabres draft Owen Power 1st overall

The Buffalo Sabres selected top prospect Owen Power with the first overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Owen Power

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 213 lbs
Age: 18
Club: University of Michigan (NCAA)
Nationality: Canadian

(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)

Most experts and insiders expected Power to be the No. 1 pick, though he wasn't as much of a slam dunk as Alexis Lafreniere last year. Nevertheless, the towering blue-liner oozes potential.

NHL Central Scouting named Power the No. 1 North American skater on its final rankings. He impressed during his freshman season with the Wolverines after playing two campaigns for the USHL's Chicago Steel. That league named him defenseman of the year in 2019-20 after he led all players at the position with 40 points over 45 games.

The Ontario-born rearguard also contributed internationally, helping Canada claim gold at the World Championship in Latvia back in May while producing three assists over 10 games.

Power hasn't decided whether he'll make the jump to the NHL right away, but he appears unlikely to do so. In June, he said he was leaning toward playing another season with Michigan.

What they're saying

"... Power projects as a star all-situations NHL defenseman who won’t land on highlight reels but will play tough minutes and drive play," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman.

"(I'm) constantly amazed (at) how agile and light on his feet he is," Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino wrote. "Has a great frame to work with and there’s plenty of room for growth."

"I wouldn’t bet against him becoming an all-situations, big-minutes first-pairing defenceman, and his floor probably positions him as a top-four blue-liner," wrote The Athletic's Scott Wheeler.

Highlights

To watch a collection of Power's highlights, click here.