BUFFALO, N.Y. [WKBW] — On the eve of the season opener the Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Owen Power to a seven-year contract extension. The deal is worth $58.45 million with an average cap hit of $8.35 million per season.
Power, 20, was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy last season, an award given to the NHL's top rookie. As a 19-year-old, Power tallied 35 points, becoming just the sixth Sabres defender to tally 35 points as a rookie.
The deal for Power, who was the first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, comes just two days after 2018 first-overall pick Rasmus Dahlin signed an eight-year extension with the team.
READ MORE: Buffalo Sabres sign Rasmus Dahlin to record eight-year, $88 million contract extension
Since August 2022, the Sabres have signed Tage Thompson, Mattias Samuelsson, Dylan Cozens, Dahlin, and Power to multi-year contract extensions.
The Sabres begin the season on Thursday against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. Earlier this week the team announced its 2023-24 roster.
READ MORE: Buffalo Sabres announce 2023-24 roster ahead of season opener
Dahlin ✅
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 12, 2023
Power ✅
Thompson ✅
Cozens ✅
Samuelsson ✅
The core is young and the future is bright
Bove's Take:
The future is bright for the Buffalo Sabres and the deal to Power locks up their young core for a long, long time. Having Power, Dahlin, and Samuelsson all under contract for the next seven years is a massive advantage as the Sabres try and build a contender.
I've always thought the best teams in the NHL should build around their centers and their blue lines and that's what GM Kevyn Adams has done. With three core pieces locked up on defense and two young centers also on long deals the Sabres have built a strong foundation for the short and long-term.
