After inking defenseman and number one overall pick Rasmus Dahlin from the 2018 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres continued their work on the blueline by inking defenseman Owen Power to a seven-year deal.
OP’S IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL‼️
We have signed defenseman Owen Power to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $8.35 million.
Details: https://t.co/Mp4jy4QOi1 pic.twitter.com/PnEDOucaal
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 11, 2023
Power’s new seven-year contract is worth $54.85 million and carries an annual average value of $8.35 million.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Owen Power to a seven-year contract extension worth $58.45 million ($8.35 million AAV). pic.twitter.com/Q9XJfqWO8r
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) October 11, 2023
Once Dahlin was signed, it was just a matter of time before Power was done. Though nobody knew it was going to be done this quickly. However, both sides had been talking throughout the offseason and discussions picked up over the last couple of days.
Power’s agent Pat Brisson says both sides had been talking for a while but things got accelerated over last few days with a mutual desire to get it done before opening night.
Kevyn Adams is on a roll. https://t.co/hSffVq9VVJ— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 11, 2023
With Power being 10.2(c) status at the end of this season, similar to Shane Pinto in Ottawa and Jamie Drysdale in Anaheim this past offseason, this seemed like the only path forward as he wouldn’t be eligible for an offer sheet.
Owen Power #LetsGoBuffalo
$8.35M x 7Confirmed Breakdown:
Yr 1: $6.35M + $2M SB
Yr 2-7: $8.35MYr 6 & 7: M-NTC (5 team no-trade list)
Represented by @CAAHockey https://t.co/3lQIjp4Gyh
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 12, 2023
As mentioned when Dahlin got signed, the Sabres got five of their core players locked up in Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and now all three of their young defensemen in Dahlin, Power and Mattias Samuelsson. All of whom are on reasonable contracts.
Buffalo #LetsGoSabres now have 5 players locked up to 2029-30
1. Tage Thompson
2. Dylan Cozens
3. Rasmus Dahlin
4. Mattias Samuelsson
5. Owen Powerhttps://t.co/H5mJ7YSKPq pic.twitter.com/NXM9bl7bUw— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 12, 2023
Power was selected first overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. As we saw in Ottawa with Jake Sanderson, Power is getting paid for his potential moving forward. And once Sanderson was signed it set the market for Power. Power is just a little bit over what Sanderson is making.
Owen Power, signed to a 7x$8.35M extension by BUF, is a talented young puck-moving defenceman who thrived at creating offence as a rookie, especially delivering passes in transition. Work to do defensively but plenty of time to do it. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/5qFCXsQ9wY
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 12, 2023
Owen Power was a finalist for the Calder Trophy last season as he recorded 35 points (four goals and 31 assists) in 79 games averaging 23:48 minutes on ice with the Sabres last season.
