Sabres’ Owen Power Is Turning Into a Number One Defenseman

The Buffalo Sabres have opened the season 3‑3‑1. It’s still early, but their recent four‑game stretch against Atlantic Division opponents has been encouraging; grabbing three out of four possible points is exactly the kind of response you want this time of the season.

The start hasn’t been perfect. The team is still adjusting to life without Alex Tuch — now with the Washington Capitals — and Bowen Byram — now with the Chicago Blackhawks — and the ups and downs have shown. But there’s one clear bright spot emerging from the early chaos: Owen Power.

Power Is Just Scratching the Surface Offensively

When the Sabres drafted Power first overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, they knew exactly what they were getting: a big, smooth‑skating, puck‑moving defenseman with the ceiling to become an elite offensive force. His NHL transition wasn’t perfectly linear, and the early season had their bumps, but his game has taken a real step forward over the past two campaigns. This season, he’s showing Buffalo why taking him first overall was the right call.

Power has been the Sabres’ most consistent and impactful player to start 2026-27. He’s tied for the team lead in points with seven (one goal, six assists) and is averaging over 26 minutes a night through seven games. According to MoneyPuck, his on‑ice goals percentage sits at 55%, second among Sabres defensemen, a strong indicator of how much he’s driving play.

At just 23 years old and already in his fifth full NHL season, Power looks like a player ready to break out in a major way. With the workload he’s getting, a 70‑plus‑point season isn’t unrealistic, and the opportunity is clearly there.

Head coach Lindy Ruff trusts him the same way he trusts Rasmus Dahlin, and early in the season Power has even spent time on the top pair alongside the Sabres’ Norris Trophy finalist. Now, with Dahlin day‑to‑day with an upper‑body injury, Power is being asked to shoulder even more responsibility, and he’s handled it exactly how you’d want.

When Dahlin exited the Sabres’ 5‑3 win over the Florida Panthers early in the second period on Oct. 12, Power stepped up immediately. He logged 26:31 of ice time, recorded two assists, and finished with a plus‑3 rating. The next night, in the 4‑3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, he played a massive 28:22. He didn’t record a point, but he was steady, composed, and leaned on heavily in every situation.

Power’s Two-Way Game Has Matured

Since Power entered the league in 2022, one part of his game has consistently drawn criticism: his defensive and two‑way play. His offensive talent was never in question: he’s always been able to drive play, move the puck, and create chances, but defensively has struggled at times. Last season, he got off to a rough start and according to Evolving Hockey, finished the regular season in the 44th percentile defensively. That’s not ideal for a player with his ceiling.

In the playoffs, we finally saw him take that next step. According to MoneyPuck, his on‑ice expected goals against per 60 minutes was 3.05, second among Sabres defensemen. Beyond the numbers, he was strong in front of his own net, battled well in the corners, and did an excellent job shutting down Montreal’s speed through the neutral zone. It was the first real glimpse of Power becoming a complete defenseman.

So far this season, he’s taken another leap. He ranks third among Sabres defensemen in expected goals against per 60 minutes at 2.57, and the eye test backs it up: He looks more composed, more physical when needed, and far more confident reading plays defensively. His game is maturing right in front of us, and it’s been one of the most pleasant developments of Buffalo’s early season.

The best part is he’s doing all of this while producing at an elite offensive rate. Power is on pace for 84 points, showing he can drive offense without sacrificing his defensive responsibilities. It’s only a matter of time before he’s mentioned among the league’s best two‑way defensemen.

If this is the version of Power the Sabres get consistently, they’re looking at a franchise defenseman stepping fully into his prime. Paired with Dahlin, Buffalo suddenly has one of the most dynamic, dominant defensive duos in the NHL.