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Sabres select defenseman Owen Power with No. 1 overall pick in 2021 NHL Draft

owen power

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the first pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres select Owen Power during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Owen Power with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft on Friday night, hopefully adding another significant piece to their latest rebuild.

It is the second time in four years the Sabres have used the No. 1 overall pick in the draft on a defender, previously selecting Rasmus Dahlin during the 2018 draft.

This was not the best year to have the top pick in the draft as there really was not a generational talent available, and the scheduling issues around the various junior and college leagues due to the pandemic has made it difficult to fully evaluate prospects.

Still, Power probably has the best potential of any prospect in this draft due to his combination of skating ability, size, skill, shot and vision.

He is not expected to play in the NHL this season, however, as he plans on returning to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season.