Power postponed his NHL debut to spend another year in university<\/p>\n
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Published May 08, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 3\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n BUFFALO \u2014 Don\u2019t overthink it.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Nearly five years after Owen Power was selected first overall in the National Hockey League draft<\/a>, the Buffalo Sabres defenceman has an idea of the emotions being experienced by the Maple Leafs\u2019 prospective first pick.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cHave fun with it and enjoy it,\u201d Power said on Friday morning. \u201cDon\u2019t put too much pressure on yourself or listen to the outside too much. Whoever it is, I\u2019m sure they\u2019re going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, if it\u2019s Gavin McKenna<\/a> that the Maple Leafs pick first here at the KeyBank Center on the evening of June 26, the announcement will come after the spotlight has been on McKenna for the past couple of years. Following two seasons in which he tore up the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers, recording 226 points in 117 games, McKenna had 51 points in 35 games for Penn State this season.<\/p>\n After he was drafted by the Sabres, Power returned to the University of Michigan for the 2021-22 season and also played for Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When his college year was done, Power made his NHL debut in Toronto against the Leafs on April 12, 2022 and played in eight games before starting his NHL career on a full-time basis in 2022-23.<\/p>\n Four years later, at the age of 23, the Mississauga native has become a consistently dependable player for the Sabres, averaging more than 22 minutes a game.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say (having the first-pick tag) really bothered me too much,\u201d Power said. \u201cI think it helped going back to school for another year, where that stuff quieted down. That was the biggest thing, really, that I was able to go back to school and not have to worry about any of that. It\u2019s definitely easier than going first and playing right away.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the years have gone on, I\u2019ve grown my game and I feel more comfortable out there. I definitely feel good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n tkoshan@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n X: @koshtorontosun<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Gavin McKenna\u2019s No. 72 already is buzzing with Maple Leafs fans<\/p>\n![\"Buffalo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0509owenpower-e1778285298227.jpg\")
Buffalo Sabres defenceman Owen Power. Photo by Maddie Meyer \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.1.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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