BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Owen Power, out of the University of Michigan, with the top pick in the NHL Draft on Friday night.
The 6-foot-6-inch left-handed defenseman will now have to decide with the Sabres organization whether he will return to Michigan for his sophomore season.
The 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, was the projected top pick in the draft but said he was leaning toward returning to the Wolverines for one more season.
Thursday afternoon before the draft, General Manager Kevyn Adams said, "Clearly you're looking to draft who is the top player, but for us, also who is going to be the top player projecting out moving forward, and that's obviously challenging. This isn't about who comes out of the gate and day one is the best player. This is about where they go on in their career."
He spoke with the media about being drafted by the Sabres on Friday night. Watch the interview below.
After trading defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers hours before the draft on Friday, the Sabres picked up another first round selection in the return, with the 14th pick in the 2021 Draft, which ultimately became the 13th pick after the Arizona Coyotes had to forfeit their 11th pick for NHL rule violations.
Buffalo selected Swedish winger Isak Rosén with the No. 14 pick. The 18-year-old from Stockholm played his last two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League.
The Sabres also acquired a second round pick in the 2023 draft, and defenseman Robert Hagg from Philadelphia in the Ristolainen trade.