Owen Power
Owen Power (born November 22, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He played college ice hockey for the University of Michigan. Power was drafted first overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[2]
Owen Power | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
Born |
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | November 22, 2002||
Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) | ||
Weight | 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NHL team | Buffalo Sabres | ||
National team | Canada | ||
NHL Draft |
1st overall, 2021 Buffalo Sabres | ||
Playing career | 2022–present |
Playing career
Power grew up in Mississauga, Ontario.[3] When he became eligible as a junior player, he was selected by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League in the second round of the 2018 OHL draft and by the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in the first round of the 2018 USHL draft.[4] He opted to join the Steel to retain his NCAA eligibility as he had already verbally committed to playing for the University of Michigan. As a rookie with the Steel in the 2018–19 season, he was named to the end-of-season All-Rookie Second Team as the Steel advanced to the Clark Cup finals. He was then the 2019–20 USHL Defenceman of the Year and led the league's defenceman with 40 points as the Steel earned the regular season title in the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season.[5][6]
He then joined the University of Michigan for the 2020–21 season, which ended with the team being forced to withdraw from the postseason due to positive tests for COVID-19. He was considered one of the top prospects for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He was selected for the Hockey Canada selection camp.[7]
Power was selected first overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, though he elected to return to Michigan for his sophomore season, becoming the first number one overall pick to play college ice hockey since Erik Johnson in 2006.[8] During the 2021–22 season in his sophomore year, he recorded three goals and 24 assists for 27 points in 29 games. He also had a team-best 44 blocked shots. Before leaving for the Olympics, he led the nation's defencemcn in points per game.[9] Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was named a finalist for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.[10] He was also named an AHCA West Second Team All-American.[11]
On April 8, 2022, Power signed a $5.55 million three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres.[12] Power made his NHL debut on April 12, 2022, in a 5–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He recorded his first point, an assist on a goal by Alex Tuch, two days later on April 14 in a 6–2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Power scored his first NHL goal on April 21 in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils; he recorded one more in the Sabres' season finale against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Playing his first full season with the Sabres, Power registered 4 goals and 31 assists in 79 games. He led all rookie defencemen in both assists and points, and was voted a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.[13]
On October 11, 2023, Power signed a 7-year, $58.45 million ($8.35 million AAV) extension with the Sabres.[14]
International play
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing Canada | ||
Ice hockey | ||
World Championships | ||
2021 Latvia |
Power represented Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three assists in 10 games and won a gold medal.[15][16] He also represented Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the first game of the preliminary round of December 26, 2021, he became the first Canadian defenceman in World Juniors history to score a hat-trick.[17]
On January 25, 2022, Power was named to Team Canada's roster to represent Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[18][19]
Personal life
Power has an older sister, Emily, who plays lacrosse at the University of Guelph, and a younger brother, Adam. In high school, Power also played basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. He was a three-time national champion in lacrosse.[20] He has stated that lacrosse helped him in hockey, as he would learn how to find space in the attacking zone.[21]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2017–18 | Mississauga Reps | GTHL | 32 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018–19 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 58 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
2019–20 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 45 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2020–21 | University of Michigan | B1G | 26 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2021–22 | University of Michigan | B1G | 33 | 3 | 29 | 32 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2021–22 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2022–23 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 4 | 31 | 35 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 87 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
Awards and honours
Award | Year | Ref |
---|---|---|
USHL | ||
All-Rookie Second Team | 2019 | |
All-USHL First Team | 2020 | |
Defenseman of the Year | 2020 | |
College | ||
All-Big Ten Second Team | 2021 | [22] |
All-Big Ten Freshman Team | 2021 | |
All-Big Ten First Team | 2022 | [10] |
AHCA West Second Team All-American | 2022 | [23] |
NHL | ||
NHL All-Rookie Team | 2023 | [24] |
References
- "U of Michigan won't allow potential NHL top pick to attend Canada world junior camp". CBC.ca. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- Quigley, Ryan (October 8, 2020). "A way-too-early look at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft". broadstreethockey.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- Ploshehanski, Peter (November 12, 2020). "Red Wings Should Target Owen Power in 2021 NHL Draft". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- "Mississauga's Owen Power taken early by Chicago Steel in USHL Draft". Toronto.com. May 13, 2018.
- Colpitts, Iain (April 28, 2020). "Owen Power of Mississauga named USHL Defenceman of the Year". Mississauga.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- "Owen Power named USHL Defenseman of the Year". chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. June 12, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- "UM won't release Owen Power to participate in Hockey Canada camp". The Detroit News. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- "How No. 1 overall pick Owen Power decided to stay at Michigan, wait on Sabres and NHL | NCAA.com". NCAA.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- McNeil, Kristy (March 15, 2022). "Beniers, Power on All-Big Ten First Team; Hughes Shares Top Freshman Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- Lysowski, Lance (April 8, 2022). "Sabres sign No. 1 draft pick Owen Power to 3-year entry-level contract". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- Satriano, David (May 3, 2023). "Beniers, Power, Skinner named Calder Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- Fairburn, Matthew (October 11, 2023). "Sabres sign Owen Power to 7-year, $58.45 million extension: What this means for Buffalo's future". The Athletic. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- McNeil, Kristy (May 14, 2021). "USA Picks Beniers, Canada Selects Power for World Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- McNeil, Kristy (June 6, 2021). "Power, Canada Win Gold at World Championship; Beniers, USA Earn Bronze". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- McNeil, Kristy (December 26, 2021). "World Juniors Updates: Power Makes History as Canada, USA Open with Wins". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- Harrison, Doug (January 25, 2022). "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". CBC Sports. Toronto ON: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- McNeil, Kristy (January 25, 2022). "Power, Johnson Selected to Hockey Canada Olympic Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- "Why Owen Power has become the clear No. 1 prospect in the 2021 NHL draft". ESPN.com. July 16, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- reporter, News sports (July 23, 2021). "Five things to know about new Sabres defenseman Owen Power". The Buffalo News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "NHL announces 2022-23 All-Rookie Team". NHL.com. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database