Louis Crevier didn’t need much time to size up Owen Power.
Asked for his first impression of the Buffalo Sabres defenseman, Crevier cracked a grin and pointed to the most obvious evidence.
“Well, he got three assists in his first game,” Crevier said. “So, he’s a great player.”
Power backed that up Tuesday in Buffalo’s 5-1 preseason win over the Blue Jackets, looking every bit like a player ready to build on the momentum he carried out of last season’s playoffs. He logged 24:05, finished plus-4, and collected three assists.
For the 23-year-old, the early showing mattered because his responsibilities may grow in several directions this season. Bowen Byram’s offseason departure left a hole beside him, and the Sabres brought in two defensemen, Crevier and Olen Zellweger, with the idea that one of them could slide into Power’s spot on the second pair.
Zellweger opened camp next to Power, but a concussion in the game against the Blue Jackets changed the setup. At Thursday’s practice, it was Crevier skating with him instead.
No matter who ends up there, Power is the established presence on that pairing, the one expected to help guide a new teammate through Buffalo’s up-tempo system.
“I think both of them are going to fit in really well with the core that we already have,” Power said of Crevier and Zellweger. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
There’s more on his plate than even-strength minutes. Power has also taken over as the point man on the Sabres’ second power-play unit, a role Byram handled last season. Buffalo has made improving the power play an early camp priority after finishing 21st in the league a year ago.
“I think (the focus is) just attacking more," Power said. "Being able to build on chances in-zone and to just not have one and dones, be able to recover pucks and attack right off them and create high-danger looks from that.”
The workload could get heavier still while Mattias Samuelsson is sidelined week to week with a lower-body injury. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Power could see shifts alongside Rasmus Dahlin while Samuelsson is out.
That kind of usage fits the way Buffalo leaned on Power late last season. He kept rounding out his defensive game, then delivered in the playoffs with six assists and a plus-5 rating in 13 games even while playing through a grade-3 ankle sprain.
After the season, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said Power was “only scratching the surface” of his potential.
For Power, the mission hasn’t changed.
“Just continue to build off last year,” Power said when asked about his goals for the upcoming season. “Continue to work on my game every day and try and get a little bit better.”
In Other News...
Sabres Still Have A Connor Hellebuyck Decision They Can't Rush
The Connor Hellebuyck situation has turned into one of the more intriguing goalie stories to watch from a Sabres perspective, even if it is still very much in the waiting stage. Winnipeg has publicly heard his trade request, but the Jets have not moved him, and Buffalo is among the teams monitoring the possibility along with San Jose and Utah. For the Sabres, any opening of that caliber naturally invites attention, especially with a player of Hellebuycks profile suddenly sitting in limbo.
Still, Buffalo cannot treat this like a simple fit-and-finish move. The Jets have not yet received an offer they view as strong enough, with age, recent performance, playoff concerns and salary all part of the hesitation around the market. On Buffalos side, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonens limited no-trade clause and Jarmo Kekalainens confidence in the current goalie trio only add to the complexity, which is why this is the kind of situation the Sabres can track closely without rushing into anything. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Put Jiri Kulich In A Spot That Could Change Everything
The Sabres are using the preseason to test more than just their lineup, and Jiri Kulich is at the center of that evaluation. Buffalo plans to move him around in multiple spots, a sign the coaching staff wants to see how far his versatility can go before the games start to count. Lindy Ruff has already spoken positively about the way Kulich has handled that expanded look, which makes this week a little more than a routine exhibition stop.
One of the most interesting wrinkles comes against the Detroit Red Wings, where Kulich is slated to get a chance to work with Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund. It is the kind of look that can tell the Sabres a lot about where he fits long term, especially if the chemistry shows up quickly. The same game also gives Buffalo another first-time checkpoint, with defenseman Gavin McCarthy set to make his NHL preseason debut as the club continues sorting through younger pieces and where they belong. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Suddenly Have A Big Top Pair Decision Before Opening Night
The Sabres came out of their recent game with more than just bumps and bruises, and the immediate concern is on the blue line. Olen Zellweger is recovering from a concussion and said he is feeling better, while Mattias Samuelsson also exited with a lower-body injury, leaving Buffalo to sort through its defensive depth with opening night approaching.
Lindy Ruff is already weighing different pairings to cover the losses, and the ripple effect could reshape the top end of the defense if Samuelsson is sidelined for any stretch. With Rasmus Dahlin entrenched on the first pair, Buffalo suddenly has a real early test in deciding who best fits next to him while the lineup waits for answers on how long the injuries will linger. [Read more 🡒]