Owen Power Bio
Owen Power is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 22, 2002, in Mississauga, Ontario, Power was selected first overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL entry draft after a standout college career with the University of Michigan. He made his NHL debut in April 2022 and has since developed into one of the league’s most promising young defencemen, recognized for his size, poise, and playmaking ability.
Early Life and Background
Owen Power grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, where he was introduced to ice sports at a young age. As a child, he played multiple sports including basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse, and was a three-time national champion in lacrosse. His time on the lacrosse floor helped sharpen his spatial awareness and offensive instincts, skills he has said translate directly to finding open space in the attacking zone on the ice.
Power comes from a close family. He has an older sister, Emily, who plays lacrosse at the University of Guelph, and a younger brother named Adam. He is a devout Catholic and has often credited his family and faith as grounding influences during the early stages of his hockey career.
Path to Hockey
Power’s path to the NHL began in the junior ranks, where he was selected by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League in the second round of the 2018 OHL draft. He was also picked in the first round of the 2018 United States Hockey League (USHL) draft by the Chicago Steel. Because Power had already committed to the University of Michigan, he chose the USHL route to preserve his NCAA eligibility.
During his rookie season with the Chicago Steel in 2018–19, he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team as the team advanced to the Clark Cup finals. The following year, he was named USHL Defenceman of the Year after leading all league defencemen with 40 points in a pandemic-shortened season that saw the Steel claim the regular season title.
Owen Power Career
Collegiate Career (2020–2022)
Power joined the University of Michigan for the 2020–21 NCAA season, a campaign that ended prematurely when the team was forced to withdraw from the postseason due to COVID-19 protocols. Despite the shortened year, he was widely regarded as one of the top prospects for the 2021 NHL entry draft and was invited to the Hockey Canada selection camp.
After being selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres, Power made the rare decision to return to Michigan for his sophomore season, becoming the first number one overall pick to play college hockey since Erik Johnson in 2006. In 29 games during 2021–22, he posted three goals and 24 assists for 27 points, added a team-best 44 blocked shots, and led all NCAA defencemen in points per game before leaving for the Olympics. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was a finalist for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, while also earning AHCA West Second Team All-American honors.
NHL Debut and Rookie Season (2022–2023)
On April 8, 2022, Power signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut on April 12, 2022, in a 5–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and recorded his first NHL point two days later, an assist on a goal by Alex Tuch against the St. Louis Blues. His first NHL goal came on April 21, 2022, in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
In his first full NHL season, Power registered four goals and 31 assists in 79 games, leading all rookie defencemen in both assists and points. His strong play was rewarded with a finalist selection for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL’s award for the top rookie.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2023–Present)
On October 11, 2023, Power committed his long-term future to the Sabres by signing a seven-year, $58.45 million contract extension, a deal that runs through the 2029–30 season. The agreement reflected Buffalo’s belief in the young defenceman as a foundational piece of the franchise’s rebuild.
Power continued to shoulder top-pairing responsibilities for the Sabres, logging heavy minutes and contributing on both ends of the ice. During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, he became the first Sabres player ever to record an assist in each of his first four career playoff games, achieving the milestone with a helper on a Bowen Byram goal against the Boston Bruins on April 26, 2026. He also became only the third defenceman in NHL history to post an assist in each of his first four playoff games, joining Ron Stackhouse and Joe Micheletti.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 6 inches and roughly 221 pounds, Power combines rare size with smooth skating and high-level hockey sense. He is most effective as a puck-moving defenceman who can quarterback a power play, transition the puck through the neutral zone, and defend with his reach and stick detail. His lacrosse background shows in his comfort with creative offensive plays and his knack for locating soft ice in the attacking zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Power’s signature achievements are his first overall selection in 2021, his Calder Trophy finalist season, his seven-year contract extension, and his historic 2026 playoff assist streak. Internationally, he scored a hat-trick in his first game at the 2022 World Junior Championships, becoming the first Canadian defenceman ever to record a hat-trick in tournament history, and he won gold with Canada at the 2021 World Championship.
Owen Power Career Wins
Owen Power’s career wins include the 2021 IIHF World Championship gold medal with Team Canada, where he recorded three assists in 10 games. He also captured the USHL Defenceman of the Year award and a Clark Cup finals appearance with the Chicago Steel, along with the 2018 USHL regular season title.
International Highlights
Power represented Canada at the 2021 World Championship and won gold, his most significant international victory to date. He also played for Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championships, opening the tournament with a historic hat-trick before COVID-19 forced the event’s cancellation. He was later named to Canada’s Olympic roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics tournament, where Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sweden, and rejoined Canada for the 2024 World Championship.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Power helped the Chicago Steel reach the Clark Cup finals in 2019 and later lead the USHL in defenceman scoring in 2019–20. In the NCAA, he was a finalist for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned multiple All-American and All-Big Ten selections across his two seasons at Michigan.
Owen Power Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Owen Power’s family has supported his athletic development from an early age. His older sister, Emily, is a lacrosse player at the University of Guelph, and his younger brother is named Adam. The family remains a central part of his life and is based in Mississauga, Ontario.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Power remains connected to his hometown of Mississauga and his family. He has spoken openly about his Catholic faith and the role it plays in his daily life. His interests in lacrosse, basketball, and volleyball shaped his well-rounded athletic foundation before hockey became his primary sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season represented another step forward for Owen Power as a core member of the Buffalo Sabres’ defensive group. Playing in a top-pairing role, he was trusted with significant minutes in all situations, including power play and penalty kill duties. His combination of size, mobility, and poise continued to make him a matchup-defining presence for head coach Lindy Ruff’s squad.
While the Sabres continued to push for a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, Power remained a stabilizing force on the back end, contributing offensively and logging heavy defensive zone starts. His established partnership with the team’s veteran core and his role as a leader among the younger Sabres players helped set the tone in a transitional season for the franchise.
Heading into 2025, Power’s long-term contract extension through 2030 underscored his importance to the Sabres’ future. With his blend of size, skill, and poise, he is expected to remain central to Buffalo’s pursuit of sustained playoff contention in the seasons to come.
