The Sabres’ early-season record sits at 3-3-1, and while Buffalo is still sorting through the changes left behind by Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, one thing has come into focus fast: Owen Power is taking a real step toward becoming the defenseman the organization drafted first overall in 2021.
Power has been the most reliable piece in the lineup through seven games of 2026-27. He’s tied for the team lead with seven points, posting one goal and six assists, while averaging more than 26 minutes a night.
MoneyPuck’s numbers back up what the eye test has already shown, with Power carrying a 55% on-ice goals percentage, second among Sabres defensemen. That’s the kind of production and presence that points to a player driving the game, not just surviving it.
At 23, in his fifth full NHL season, Power looks ready to push into a new tier. With the role he’s already handling, a 70-plus-point season doesn’t feel far-fetched. The opportunity is right there, and so far he’s grabbing it.
Lindy Ruff is treating Power like a foundational piece. Early in the season, he’s already been used on the top pair with Rasmus Dahlin, and when Dahlin went day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Power’s workload only grew.
He answered the call against Florida on Oct. 12, after Dahlin left Buffalo’s 5-3 win in the second period, playing 26:31, picking up two assists, and finishing plus-3. The next night, in the 4-3 shootout loss to Montreal, he was back out there for 28:22 and didn’t get a point, but he remained steady and heavily trusted in every situation.
That’s the offensive side of the story. The other half is just as important, because for much of his career, Power’s defensive play has been the question hanging over his ceiling.
Nobody ever doubted the puck-moving skill or the ability to create offense. The issue was whether he could handle the other end well enough to become a true top-pair force.
Last season opened poorly, and Evolving Hockey had him at the 44th percentile defensively by the end of the regular season.
The playoffs were the first real sign that was changing. MoneyPuck had Power at 3.05 expected goals against per 60 minutes, second among Sabres defensemen. More importantly, he looked sharper in the areas that matter most: boxing out at the net, winning battles in the corners, and helping shut down Montreal speed through the neutral zone.
This season, that growth has continued. Power ranks third among Sabres defensemen in expected goals against per 60 minutes at 2.57, and he’s looking more composed, more physical when he needs to be, and more confident reading the game without the puck. The offensive production is still there too, and the combination is what makes the start so encouraging: he’s on pace for 84 points while also handling tougher defensive responsibility.
If this is the version of Power Buffalo gets night after night, the Sabres have a franchise defenseman settling into his prime. Put him next to Dahlin, and the blue line suddenly looks like one of the NHL’s most dangerous pairings.
In Other News...
Sabres Crease Suddenly Sits At Center Of A Bigger Trade Watch
Igor Shesterkins season-ending injury has sent the Rangers into the goalie market, and Buffalo has suddenly found its crease drawn into the conversation. New York general manager Chris Drury is taking a hard look at available options, while Rangers goalie scout Scott Clemmensen has been out identifying potential trade targets, with Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen among the names drawing attention.
The bigger intrigue is where that search could lead if New York decides to get aggressive. There is speculation about a larger trade structure that would involve the Sabres and Jets, with Luukkonen potentially part of the return headed to Manhattan and Connor Hellebuyck emerging as a possible fit for Buffalo, though nothing has been completed or announced. For the Sabres, it is the sort of rumor that puts their own goalie situation squarely in the middle of a much wider market. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Goaltending Trouble Puts A Familiar Trade Rumor Back In Play
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg has lingered long enough to feel less like a hot rumor and more like an ongoing test of patience for everyone involved. The former Jets starter remains suspended after requesting a trade and not reporting to training camp, and while there has been plenty of outside speculation about where he might land, nothing has been completed.
For Buffalo, the timing keeps this possibility in view because the Sabres goaltending picture is unsettled, which naturally pulls attention back toward any established name who could alter it. Winnipeg, meanwhile, has opened the season well without Hellebuyck, adding another layer to a stalemate that has no easy answer and still leaves the door open to more chatter as the situation develops. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Still Waiting As Buffalo's Injury Picture Gets More Complicated
The Sabres injury picture got a little clearer, but not necessarily better, as Lindy Ruff laid out where several key players stand. Alex Lyon was unavailable for his season debut, so Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got the start in goal, while captain Rasmus Dahlin remains day to day with an upper-body injury and winger Jason Zucker is continuing his return from surgery. Conor Timmins and Matt Grzelcyk are also working their way back, leaving Buffalo to manage yet another stretch with pieces missing from the lineup.
For a team trying to settle in early, the uncertainty around Dahlin looms largest because Buffalo has leaned so heavily on its top defenseman when healthy. The encouraging part is that Ruffs update suggested some progress across the board, but the Sabres are still waiting for those returns to translate into actual lineup stability, especially with the blue line and crease both in flux. [Read more 🡒]