‘There’s a lot of excitement and there should be’ as Sabres sign No. 1 draft

In Florida preparing for a game against the Panthers, the Sabres wanted to know when their newest teammate was scheduled to arrive and how they could congratulate him on beginning a professional career.

“They wanted to connect with him,” Adams, the club’s general manager, said during a video conference call. “It says a lot to me of what this group is all about. And you know how excited they are to welcome him in.”

The hype surrounding Power’s arrival intensified late Thursday night when his season ended with Michigan’s devastating overtime loss to Denver in the Frozen Four at Boston’s TD Garden. And it will increase in the coming days, as Power is expected to join the Sabres on Saturday in Tampa, Fla., and he is tentatively scheduled to make his NHL debut Tuesday night in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. Scotiabank Arena is a short drive from his family’s home in Mississauga, Ont. 

“We’re really looking forward to him joining us here shortly,” forward Jeff Skinner said after the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to Florida. “There’s obviously a lot of excitement and there should be. He’s going to be a great player for us. And we’re excited for him.”

The final few weeks of the Sabres’ season will be Power’s preview to his NHL career. He returned to Michigan – the first No. 1 draft choice to wait to turn pro since Erik Johnson in 2006 – to win a national championship as a sophomore and experience a normal college hockey season after the Covid-19 pandemic prevented him from playing in front of large crowds as a freshman.  Now, he’ll join the Sabres’ blossoming young core that’s taken strides during the season’s second half. 

“It’s a proud day for our organization,” Adams added. “We certainly believe in Owen and his abilities both on and off the ice, just the person he is. You’ve heard me talk over and over again about culture and what we’re building here and he is a phenomenal person, human being just the way he carries himself. He treats people well. We’re excited just to have him join this group and come in and be himself. And he can just come in and play. He doesn’t have to feel like the weight of the world’s on his shoulders.”

The season went brilliantly for Power, as he totaled three goals and 32 points in 33 games. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and led the Wolverines to a conference tournament title. In between, Power represented Canada at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he led the team in average time on ice per game. Before the abrupt cancellation of the IIHF World Junior Championship, Power became the first defenseman from Canada to total a hat trick in the tournament when he accomplished the feat in the opening game. 

Power will enter the NHL with high expectations, but he won’t be asked to shoulder a heavy workload or immense responsibilities right away. The Sabres have fellow No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson on the left side, which will allow coach Don Granato to use Power in specific situations to help his development.

“He’s going to bring some new energy and I’ve only heard good things about him,” Dahlin said. “We’re super excited to have him. He’s probably going to refresh my mind with a little bit of offensive play.  It’s going to be a great piece to have in our team.

The club’s depth chart on defense also includes Henri Jokiharju, Jacob Bryson, Casey Fitzgerald, Mark Pysyk, Colin Miller and Will Butcher. Adams spoke to Dahlin on Wednesday about his role in helping Power acclimate to the NHL. 

“I really believe that Owen, the transition, Rasmus has been through it,” Adams told The Buffalo News at the Frozen Four. “He’s young, but Rasmus has taken huge steps and he’s a leader. You have that group with him, Sameulsson, Jokiharju, Bryson. They’re young players, but Owen can just come in and play. Being a number one pick, having a guy next to you in the locker room that’s in that position, it helps with that transition.”

Power arrives with experience against older players, as he also represented Canada at the world championships last spring. He began the tournament in a depth role before ascending to the top pair, leading the club in average ice time per game as the team won the gold medal. The return to school also provided Power with more time to mature on and off the ice. He became a more well-rounded defenseman by showcasing improved instincts in the offensive zone and a savviness on the forecheck near his own net. 

In Michigan’s Frozen Four overtime…