The Buffalo Sabres have managed to quickly pick their season back up after a very difficult and worrying start, and now as a 4-4-1 team there is hope on the horizon. The Sabres have some of the best young talents in the league, but haven’t had the best reputation for keeping them over the years. However, they do have one guy who is a very intriguing trade candidate, and wouldn’t be a shock if we saw Buffalo open their phone lines for Owen Power.
As a 22 year old D-man, Owen Power came into the league as one of the most promising players, especially lining up with fellow first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin. As a right and left defensive pairing, the Sabres would have one of the most exciting and promising blue lines, but four years in so far, Power doesn’t loom first overall caliber.
As much as Sabres fans want Power to turn out, and as much potential as he has he could go on to be one of the top left sided D-men in the game, but, as many other have had similar situations in Buffalo, a simple change of scenery may be all Power needs to unlock what he can truly bring as a player.
Through three full years in the NHL, Power has been a very good playmaking asset from the blueline, getting 30+ assists in all three of those full seasons. He never has been a true threat on goal, and came into the league as a big framed puck-moving defenseman, but defensively, he hasn’t been as good as expected. Sure, every team needs a guy who can get the puck to dangerous areas, and a guy who can be comfortable on the puck in the defensive zone, but as a guy who is a dual-threat force, Power just isn’t cutting it.
For the Sabres, Power was and should be the guy manning the power play, and the guy who pairs up to create an elite defensive force with Rasmus Dahlin, but that hasn’t been the case. Having two guys who move the puck so well has caused very obvious defensive issues, and is something the Sabres may need to move on from.
As far as trade value, Power’s is still massive, and the haul you could get for such a player is massive. Come the trade deadline, as much as people may think it’s crazy, the Sabres 100% need to evaluate how much better Power can get for their situation, and for what he offers on the trade block, his value may be too good to hang on to. As a guy who has had some good years to develop, and some very valuable time to better his game, Power looks to have hit a glass ceiling in Buffalo, and as tough as a decision it may be, his youth may be of an advantage to somebody else, and had the right deal come, the Sabres could choose to take a hit on yet another first overall pick.
