BUFFALO, N.Y. — As the Sabres gear up for another season of hockey, they go into the new year with most of their core players locked up long-term.
The Sabres announced on social media Wednesday that they had signed defenseman Owen Power to an eight-year, $88 million extension through the 2030-2031 season. This comes almost one week after the team also announced that they had signed Rasmus Dahlin to an eight-year extension.
After morning skate on Thursday, Owen Power spoke to the media about what the deal means to him now that everything is finalized before the start of the upcoming season.
"It's nice to be able to have it done." Power said. "The core we have built that is going to be around for the next seven to eight years is a great step to becoming a winning franchise."
When Sabres coach Don Granato was asked how he felt having his star group of players signed long-term, he discussed how important it is to him from a coaching standpoint.
"What he (Power) has done in one year is impressive." Granato says. "You see that the foundation is so significantly strong, that each and every day and moment of experience ... it adds right to that foundation."