The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night locked up another piece of their young core to a long-term contract extension, signing defenseman Owen Power to a seven-year, $58.45 million deal.
The extension will kick in for the 2024-25 season. Power, 20, has one year remaining on his three-year, entry-level contract worth $5.5 million.
He’s the second member of Buffalo’s defense corps to sign a new contract this week. On Monday, Rasmus Dahlin inked the richest contract in franchise history, an eight-year, $88 million deal.
In the last 14 months, center Tage Thompson, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and center Dylan Cozens have also signed long-term extensions.
Power’s $8.35 million average annual value will be the third-highest on the Sabres next season, trailing Dahlin and winger Jeff Skinner ($9 million).
The 6-foot-6, 218-pound Power showcased remarkable maturity as rookie last season. He averaged 23 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time a game, putting him first among NHL rookies and 30th overall. His total five-on-five ice time – a whopping 1,588 minutes – ranked fourth among all players. Only Erik Karlsson, Adam Larsson and Drew Doughty played more.
Power, the first overall pick in 2021, finished third in the Calder Trophy balloting.
He joined the Sabres late in 2021-22 following his sophomore season at Michigan. He has compiled six goals, 38 points and a plus-13 rating in 87 career games.
The Sabres open the season tonight against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center.
