Buffalo Sabres No. 1 pick Owen Power planning return to Michigan
BUFFALO, N.Y. (BVM) — Michigan defenseman and recent Buffalo Sabres No. 1 overall pick, Owen Power, has elected to return to the Wolverines’ program for his sophomore campaign. After missing out on a normal college hockey season this past year, Power along with the Sabres thought returning for another collegiate season would be a good idea.
“This is a tough league, so I think the one mistake we don’t want to make is putting someone in position that they’re just treading water,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams told ESPN. “We want them to be ready to play.”
The recent top overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft comes into the Sabres’ organization with a ton of buzz. The 6-foot-6 defenseman scored three goals and tallied 13 assists in 26 games for the Wolverines, picking up Big Ten all-rookie team selection honors. The extra time at the collegiate level will allow the future Sabres defenseman to grow his expanding offensive skill set.
With the election to go back to Michigan, Power will join a small list of former No. 1 overall picks who had done the same. Power now joins Erik Johnson as the last top selection to forgo his NHL debut the following season, after Johnson elected to do so back in 2006.
Power was one of many Wolverines selected in the recent draft including center Matthew Beniers going No. 2 overall to the newly formed Seattle Kraken, defenseman Luke Hughes going fourth overall to the New Jersey Devils and forward Kent Johnson being selected fifth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Power is hoping for a chance to compete for a Frozen Four title after the No. 2-seeded Wolverines were removed from the 2021 NCAA Tournament following positive COVID-19 test results.
The move by their recent draft selection continues the Sabres’ focus on their future after deals to ship forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen in trades happened last month. The status surrounding star forward Jack Eichel continues to also be a question.
After a 15-34-7 season had them at the bottom of the East Division this past year, Buffalo is hoping to continue the development of many of its young players. With the team’s focus on that, Power’s move back to the NCAA will continue this process.
