Mclem06 Posted October 17 Report Posted October 17 I hope our coach can sit down with him and show him some tape on his play at the net. It seems that anytime there is a goal and he is on the line, he’s standing there looking befuddled. He is the biggest noncontact player I’ve ever seen with a body size like that on defense. I would not complain if he was at least leaning into somebody and taking their stick away. I know players are going to get burned here and there on defense, but he’s starting to get consistently burned. His transitional game is OK but his game is terrible At the net. I know he’s young, but I would totally be fine with a trade and I know I’m gonna catch arguments for that, but let’s hear it. You agree or disagree? 1 1 1 Quote
Sabres Fan in NS Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 (edited) Welcome !! Sent you a welcome beer thingie. Power is a kid and will be until he turns 25 or so. He will be fine. He needs to mature and needs a mentor who is an NHL vet - Erik was supposed to be that guy last year and it did not work out very well. Edited October 22 by Sabres Fan in NS more goodly ... Quote
Weave Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 We should all change our handles to bot looking names. 1 6 Quote
That Aud Smell Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 On 10/16/2024 at 10:06 PM, Mclem06 said: I hope our coach can sit down with him and show him some tape on his play at the net. It seems that anytime there is a goal and he is on the line, he’s standing there looking befuddled. ... I would not complain if he was at least leaning into somebody and taking their stick away. These are valid criticisms. I'm hoping, with time, he can improve his confidence and habits when it comes to playing a "heavier" game. (He's never gonna be a bruiser -- but just lean on people a bit more, as you say.) I like a lot about other parts of his game. I think his vision and passing ability are very, very good. 1 Quote
Pimlach Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 (edited) On 10/16/2024 at 9:06 PM, Mclem06 said: I hope our coach can sit down with him and show him some tape on his play at the net. It seems that anytime there is a goal and he is on the line, he’s standing there looking befuddled. He is the biggest noncontact player I’ve ever seen with a body size like that on defense. I would not complain if he was at least leaning into somebody and taking their stick away. I know players are going to get burned here and there on defense, but he’s starting to get consistently burned. His transitional game is OK but his game is terrible At the net. I know he’s young, but I would totally be fine with a trade and I know I’m gonna catch arguments for that, but let’s hear it. You agree or disagree? Welcome aboard. I think Power is way overpaid for one. His play in front of our net is poor. His reluctance to use his body needs to be addressed by the coaches. He is never going to intimidate anyone, I get that, but he has to use his body as leverage and block some people out to play defense in the NHL. He cost us the Pittsburgh game with his soft play in front of our net. Edited October 22 by Pimlach 1 1 Quote
K-9 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 30 minutes ago, Sabres Fan in NS said: Welcome !! Sent you a welcome beer thingie. Power is a kid and will be until he turns 25 or so. He will be fine. He needs to mature and needs a mentor who is an NHL vet - Erik was supposed to be that guy last year and it did not work out very well. He needs to grow a pair. 1 Quote
LabattBlue Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 I don’t want to hear that in a few years he will be worth his contract. I would trade him in a heartbeat for a 2C. 3 Quote
WhenWillItEnd66 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 Ok.... I thought last year, Power was a sound 2nd pair Dman. I thought he played hard, was good defensively. He is never going to be a physical dman. This year, he looks out of position all the time and totally unaware or what is going on around him. That with him refusing to be physical is going to kill this team. I am hoping it is just a funk as i believe he is a skilled dman, but if he does not improve, he needs to be demoted to 3rd pair, new contract or not! Quote
JP51 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 On 10/16/2024 at 10:06 PM, Mclem06 said: I hope our coach can sit down with him and show him some tape on his play at the net. It seems that anytime there is a goal and he is on the line, he’s standing there looking befuddled. He is the biggest noncontact player I’ve ever seen with a body size like that on defense. I would not complain if he was at least leaning into somebody and taking their stick away. I know players are going to get burned here and there on defense, but he’s starting to get consistently burned. His transitional game is OK but his game is terrible At the net. I know he’s young, but I would totally be fine with a trade and I know I’m gonna catch arguments for that, but let’s hear it. You agree or disagree? He reminds me a lot of Tyler Myers in that respect and maybe a little of Uwe Krupp... You see this big dude and it takes 1 micro second to realize he is not the 2nd coming of Chara or Pronger and never will be.... Quote
... Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said: I like a lot about other parts of his game. I think his vision and passing ability are very, very good. If only he could play defense he'd be a decent mid-rounder. 1 Quote
bob_sauve28 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 It’s always interesting to see how fans attempt to coalesce around a new whipping boy. Krebs is out, who will be the next target? Dahlin, Power or Cozens? 2 Quote
mjd1001 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 (edited) 2 hours ago, LabattBlue said: I don’t want to hear that in a few years he will be worth his contract. I would trade him in a heartbeat for a 2C. Just because you don't want to hear it doesn't make it untrue. I'm not as upset about his play as I would be from a forward his pay/pedigree. I think most of the time D-men mature slower (not all the time, but most of the time). Has he made mistakes? Yep. Is he Physical, No, not at all, he might be the least physical guy on the team. But I'm fine with 'overpaying' him this year when you had cap room that you didn't spend on anyone else. As far as his defensive lapses and not picking up someone in front of the net, I will repeat what I have said in the past and I still believe it (with regard to Power and other D-men): When you watch a replay of a goal scored against, the D-men look like they are standing there, or spinning around like tops and not doing anything. However, watch other angles of the goal, and you will often (not all the time but often) see a different picture. It appears many times the D-men are staying with their guy down low, but the forwards are off in La-La-land with their coverage, often times letting wingers (or even point d-men) rush the Sabres net and not covering them at all. The Sabres D-men have to then either leave THEIR guy/zone wide open to cover for the forward, Let the rushing opposing player be wide open in the slot, or play things 'half way'. Often times they play things 'half way' which means positionally they are sound (playing the 'zone defense') but it looks like they aren't doing anything and are confused. Again, this doesn't happen all the time, but I have seen, and posted on this forum about goals where most people blamed Power, Clifton, and Samuelsson for doing this, and on the replay it APPEARS that is what happened. But go to NHL.com and watch the replay where they show you other angles, and you will see they are caught in that 'middle ground' due to the forwards just hanging out up high. This does happen with Power. Of course he needs to improve his game. He is an NHL D-man that is 21 years old. But overall, I'm not upset with his play. On the list of issues this team has, his current play and his level of Development is down the list form some other things. I think Samuelsson is more of an issue on defense with current play, and if you count forwards, Quinn and Cozens level or production and mistakes are way more of an issue than Power. Edited October 22 by mjd1001 Quote
mjd1001 Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 13 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said: It’s always interesting to see how fans attempt to coalesce around a new whipping boy. Krebs is out, who will be the next target? Dahlin, Power or Cozens? As per above, personally I am fine with Power at the moment (for the reasons listed above). Krebs has improved his play slightly to me from last year...but that slight improvement with the drop in play/production from Cozens make Krebs look more-than-marginally better. Cozens has been my whipping boy for the last 1.5 years, and there are a few others that I think agree with that. Its just the 'whip' is 'cracking' a bit louder now...for me at least until he gets his shooting percentage up to 10% to make up for his bad play without the puck. Dahlin I think is playing poorly, but eventually Lindy may have to give him the 'Benson treatment' and sit him for a game or two to try to let heal on him what is hurting. 1 Quote
PerreaultForever Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 On 10/16/2024 at 7:06 PM, Mclem06 said: I hope our coach can sit down with him and show him some tape on his play at the net. It seems that anytime there is a goal and he is on the line, he’s standing there looking befuddled. He is the biggest noncontact player I’ve ever seen with a body size like that on defense. I would not complain if he was at least leaning into somebody and taking their stick away. I know players are going to get burned here and there on defense, but he’s starting to get consistently burned. His transitional game is OK but his game is terrible At the net. I know he’s young, but I would totally be fine with a trade and I know I’m gonna catch arguments for that, but let’s hear it. You agree or disagree? Power plays soft for his size, there's no question about that and anybody who argues differently is clearly clueless. The only question is will this change over time as he (hopefully) grows stronger or is that just his temperament and he will always be soft (and thus less effective on D). I suspect he will improve in time but who knows. Something I'd add though is that on most of those goals where he is "standing there looking befuddled" Byram is out of position and chasing the play and thus being an even greater liability. Power is at least in position. I think it's a horrible pairing and our lack of disciplined physical stay at home D men is a team weakness. Our one guy who is supposed to be that (Samuelsson) seems afraid of the puck hitting him so we basically have nobody in that role. 1 Quote
Pimlach Posted October 22 Report Posted October 22 6 hours ago, LabattBlue said: I don’t want to hear that in a few years he will be worth his contract. I would trade him in a heartbeat for a 2C. Trade him for 1C. That is very doable. 1 Quote
... Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 25 minutes ago, North Buffalo said: He is way too affable... Quote
Two or less Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 That was the best game Owen Power has played in his professional career. Three assists and all were excellent plays. 4 blocked shots. Some good defensive moments too. Far from finished product but he's becoming a star in front of our eyes. 1st assist- rocket one-timer that finds Malenstyn. 2nd assist- Insane outlet pass to Zucker that set up McLeod. 3rd assist- give-n-go with Tage. Perfect pass back to his wheel house. 2 Quote
inkman Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 I’m embracing what Owen Power is rather than what he isn’t 7 Quote
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 (edited) 16 minutes ago, inkman said: I’m embracing what Owen Power is rather than what he isn’t A mediocre overpaid defenseman who isn't physical despite his size and is average defensively? Edited October 23 by GASabresIUFAN 1 3 Quote
Night Train Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 I don't think last night was a good time to complain about him. 2 Quote
Doohicksie Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 7 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said: A mediocre overpaid defenseman who isn't physical despite his size and is average defensively? You forgot the Assist Machine part. 1 Quote
WhenWillItEnd66 Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 Last night was what OP was last year. Confident, decent defensively and smart hockey. He will never be a physical defenseman. It is just not him. Quote
inkman Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 7 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said: A mediocre overpaid defenseman who isn't physical despite his size and is average defensively? I too would like every defenseman we have to be Chris Pronger or Scott Stevens but there really aren’t many of those types left. I guess Jacob Trouba but the list is short for a reason. It’s a dying role. If the Sabres had supplemented their highly skilled, highly paid offensive defenseman with some real nasty types, we might not be having this conversation. Unfortunately, the Sabres have almost all offensive dmen and the ones who aren’t we hate, see Mattias Samuelsson. Raging continuously about Power’s lack of aggression and physical play is only going to give you grief. Owen Power is one of the best offensive dmen in the league. He’s also very adept and clearing the defensive zone and moving the puck up the ice getting the team into scoring situations. I wish he’d rip guys heads off but it’s just not going to happen. Embrace him for who he is, otherwise you are just going to be miserable indefinitely. 2 2 1 Quote
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