[Jfresh] Interesting second-year results with some growing pains for Power. Some stuff tidied up on the defensive side and in transition at the expense of some offensive spark but I wouldn’t be too concerned about that. He’ll prob always disappoint fans who want hits and clap bombs.

10 comments

1. I love the kid and wishes he did what dahlin did a few years ago and gain some muscle during off season. But he was in Michigan a points getter so I’m fine with it.

2. Ya I think a lot of people saw his size and just thought he had to be a big hitting dman with a slap shot from hell when that’s never been who he is

3. Power has never been that type of player so expecting him to suddenly become that is a waste of your energy

4. He needs a partner, he needs to develop his shot and he needs to get better at clearing the front of the net.

5. Do the math. He’s a 20 year old defenseman that is being played 20+ minutes every night with big expectations due to his contract/draft position/starved fan base and a team that’s been consistently overwhelmed with or without him. He’s being set up for failure. EJ being the guy to stand up for our stars during the Canucks game is evidence that roles don’t exist on this team.

6. bUt BiG mAn SpOsEd To ChEcK aNd FiTe 🤡

7. I just continue to struggle to see why Power would be someone to commit a lot of resources to, even if I’ve liked his play a lot more in the past few weeks.

   I say that as someone who loves defensemen. Dahlin is my guy, and I’m a big fan of far less spectacular defensemen too. As someone who also loves the Penguins, I recently bought a Mark Eaton autographed puck and it’s–like–one of my favorite things I own now.

   I just don’t want the Sabres to commit Dahlin-level resources to an Eaton-level player, if I can (in all likelihood) exaggerate a little bit.

8. Our team is made of kids. Everyone writes off every player after they don’t explode onto the scene. Power was never a high producing goal scoring Dman except in the USHL, he’s always been this.

   What I think he realistically should develop into is a lockdown guy in the defensive zone with great vision for breakout passes. Right now his ability to start plays is hit or miss but you can see him looking for those stretch passes through the neutral zone. Too often he doesn’t see or feel it right away and he makes the safe play up the boards.

   Once that comfortability comes, his ability to use his skating to generate easier goal scoring chances for himself in the offensive zone will come and we will see OP final form. Might take a few years but I’m here for our gentle giant

9. Of course he’s not perfect. That said, maybe it’s just me, but a 65% WAR as a 20-21yr defenseman sounds pretty great. He has a lot of development left in him – look at Dahlin as a case in point – and that seems like he has a trajectory to be a huge impact player in the future.

10. I feel like Dahlin developed more of a physical game in the past couple years. Am I mistaken? I have to believe Power will learn to use his assets to his advantage. I realize he will never be a bruiser.