Toronto, ON (WGR 550) – Owen Power took part in his first regular practice with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, and it just so happened to take place in his hometown of Toronto. His parents were in attendance, beaming with pride in the arena, where he spent much of his childhood in.
Power didn’t look nervous out there, saying it was pretty special to take part in his first full session with the team.
"It was more of a full practice, so it was nice to get out there and get into it with the full team,” Power said following Monday's practice.
Fellow Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin knows what Power is going through as being the former No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft.
"He’s someone who has been through the same experience so, he’s somebody that I can really lean on," Power said of the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. "I just try to ask him any question that I can and just learn from him.”
Dahlin is much more outgoing than he was when he first came to Buffalo. He will share anything he can with Power.
“He’s a young kid, and he’s here to learn. It takes time," Dahlin said on Monday. "That’s my advice to him. I’ll just let him be who he is, and let him develop. There’s no rush.”
When practice was over, the team made Power go to the center of the stretch circle and they pounded their sticks on the ice for a minute or two.
“Every guy has just been so good," Power said of his teammates. Especially to be coming in, everybody has been so welcoming and so nice to me. They try to include me in everything, so they’ve done a great job of making it easy for me to come in and adjust.”
Power played two seasons in the United States Hockey League for the Chicago Steel. He got the chance to see his new defense partner, Henri Jokiharju, play while he with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I’m excited," Power said of the Blackhawks' 2017 first round pick. "I’ve seen him play when I was in Chicago, so I watched him quite a bit.”
If you’re wondering why it's Jokiharju, it's because he’s never too high and never too low.
“He’s done a nice job with Dahlin and settles things down. It’s a personality fit, and 'Joki' is much likes 'Dahls,'" said Sabres head coach Don Granato following Monday's practice. "It’s nice when you have two young guys and they already feel like big brothers. So when Owen gets here, it’s, ‘I want to play with him. No, I want to play with him.’ Yet, they play with each other, so they don’t even know they’re insulting each other. It feels right, right now.”
Jokiharju has spent a lot of his time with the Sabres playing with Dahlin. Power knows in order to mesh, he and Jokiharju must have communication.
“I think there’s going to be a lot," he said. "I know there’s going to be an adjustment, and to have him just to talk to on the ice and off the ice is going to be huge for me.”
Playing on three-different teams this year, Power has been busy. Despite that, the 19-year-old has still found time to watch the Sabres.
“I tried to watch as much as I can," Power admitted. "I think it’s an exciting young group, and a team that’s got a great future.”
Not only is Tuesday his first NHL game, but it’s also going to be in Power's hometown.
“I think it’s extremely special," Power said. "I think anyone’s NHL debut is a special moment, but to be able to have it in my hometown with all my family here makes it that much better.”
Power said everybody on the team has been helpful to him, but he did say Kyle Okposo has really been great to him.
During his first practice, Power didn’t look out of place at all. The passes were crisp, and he never really seemed confused.
“I just need to go out there and play my game," Power said. "I know it’s going to be an adjustment, but I don’t think I need to change the way that I play. I think I’ll adjust on the fly and play my game and have fun.”
Michigan had a "Dream Team" this season and was seen by many to win the National Championship. However, the Wolverines lost in overtime to the eventual champion, Denver. Power says coming to the Sabres right away helped him not feel so bad after a devastating loss.
“It was really tough, but knowing I had this coming and knowing I was out of there pretty quick made it easier on me,” he said.
Jokiharju is a bit of a quiet guy, and he said he didn't have to do a lot for Power.
"Not too much," Jokiharju said. "You don’t want to get into his head too much. I mean, there’s a reason he’s a first overall pick. So I’ll just try to help him.”
Dahlin’s first game was against the Boston Bruins in 2018. He said he was far from calm that night.
“I remember I was nervous, excited," Dahlin said. "My confidence wasn’t really there, so it takes time, but I’m sure he will do great [Tuesday]. I’m super excited to watch him.”
Granato, of course, was happy to have Power as part of the group.
“It was exciting," he said. "It’s a kid that I’ve watched a long time, and I just said 'Hello' to his parents that snuck in today. Today was a big day.”
As previously mentioned, Dahlin can’t wait to see Power play, but Granato said this didn’t just come up now.
“He had been talking about Owen and his arrival for some time before this week, so he’s been excited to meet Owen and to be around Owen,” Granato said of Dahlin.
Cody Eakin practiced on Monday, but is still sore and is questionable for Tuesday.
