1st overall pick Owen Power to join Sabres next week

According to a report from NHL insider Darren Dreger of TSN, 2021 1st overall pick Owen Power is expected to sign an entry level contract with the Buffalo Sabres following his season with the NCAA powerhouse Michigan.

Power and his Michigan teammates wrapped up an incredible regular season with a 31-9-1 record and are set to take on Denver in the semifinal of the NCAA Frozen Four this Thursday in Boston. The Michigan squad are favourites to take down the Frozen Four with 13 NHL draft picks on their roster including seven 1st round draft picks, including Power. In fact, Michigan boasts four of the top five picks from the 2021 Draft (Power, Matty Beniers, Luke Hughes and Kent Johnson).

Once his season is over it's expected that Power will join the Sabres for the balance of the season and get his first taste of NHL action. He'll then become a full-time member of the team next season and will likely play alongside another former 1st overall pick in Rasmus Dahlin.

Power is a physically imposing blueliner standing at 6 foot, 6 inches and weighing in at 215 pounds. Scouts predict that he'll likely gain another 15-25 pounds in muscle over the next few years, so it's obvious why he has such appeal around the league. But, Power isn't just some big lug out there... the kid has elite level skill and can skate like the wind. He's been compared to Chris Pronger by some, but I feel the more apt comparison is Florida Panthers defenseman and former 1st overall pick Aaron Ekblad... but with more size and snarl. 

Power rarely makes a mistake on the ice and when he does he has the defensive skills and the long stride to get himself out of trouble. He's excellent in transition and can bomb a point shot from the back end. It remains to be seen if Power can put all his tools to use at the NHL level, but in terms of raw talent and ability he's a coach's dream come true. He has 32 points in 32 games for Michigan this season on a stacked squad.