Power healthy and stronger

[dudacek]

Says he’s spent a lot of time in the weight room, and with the new strength coach.

Feels confident in his body and focused on being better defensively.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-owen-power-injury-rehab-partner-michael-kesselring-conor-timmins-brian-galivan-2025-26-season

[LGR4GM]

Unless he suddenly learns that he needs to be mean in his zone and not just lean on guys but impose himself, he could be Hercules and it wouldn't change much. 

[CallawaySabres]

If this guy does not show he has an ounce of piss and vinegar in him this year, he is dead to me.

[LGR4GM]

Power reaching a new level and getting 40+ points again, that would be great. If he was above even in his own end and then good to elite offensively in the offensive zone, he'd turn the tables because Buffalo could spend 50 minutes a night with 2 defense pairs that are nightmares. 

He better work hard and mean. 

[That Aud Smell]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Unless he suddenly learns that he needs to be mean in his zone and not just lean on guys but impose himself, he could be Hercules and it wouldn't change much. 

47 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Power reaching a new level and getting 40+ points again, that would be great. If he was above even in his own end and then good to elite offensively in the offensive zone, he'd turn the tables because Buffalo could spend 50 minutes a night with 2 defense pairs that are nightmares. 

He better work hard and mean. 

When did the Inkification of Liger occur?

I don't think of Lidström as "mean" - by way of example.

I'll settle for Power being heavy and physical in his own end.

I don't think there's much, if any, "mean" to tap into with him.

[xzy89c1]

20 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

When did the Inkification of Liger occur?

I don't think of Lidström as "mean" - by way of example.

I'll settle for Power being heavy and physical in his own end.

I don't think there's much, if any, "mean" to tap into with him.

Lidstrom was an elite defensive and offensive player almost from moment he came into league. Would love Power to play the positionally genius way Nick did. He does not, and appears lost at times.

[Mustache of God]

I've seen a lot of articles/talk about who needs to step up this year to turn things around and I've noticed Powers has been absent from most of those lists. If he can't get it together in the defensive zone we're going to have problems. I've been patient with him since he came into the league at such a young age, but now's the time for him to take a leap.

[dudacek]

15 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

I've seen a lot of articles/talk about who needs to step up this year to turn things around and I've noticed Powers has been absent from most of those lists. If he can't get it together in the defensive zone we're going to have problems. I've been patient with him since he came into the league at such a young age, but now's the time for him to take a leap.

I think Luukkonen is the most important piece in terms of stepping up, but Power and Quinn are neck-and-neck for number 2

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, xzy89c1 said:

Lidstrom was an elite defensive and offensive player almost from moment he came into league. Would love Power to play the positionally genius way Nick did. He does not, and appears lost at times.

Hear, hear.

I was just confused over Liger's call for Power to be "mean." I've used the metaphor of a crease-clearing gorilla before. I've stuck with it because I just dig it. I think it's the combination of crease clearing (alliteration) and an inherently fun word gorilla.

Anyhoo. Power's never gonna be mean. Maybe in flashes, here or there. But he's not gonna become a  mean, nasty mofo.

Set aside the example of an all-world player like Lidstrom. Can Power just be stout and tough in his own end like Billy Hajt was?

Edited 18 hours ago by That Aud Smell

[inkman]

2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

When did the Inkification of Liger occur?

I don't think of Lidström as "mean" - by way of example.

I'll settle for Power being heavy and physical in his own end.

I don't think there's much, if any, "mean" to tap into with him.

Hmmm

[mjd1001]

Unlike most other people.. I don't really need him to be physical at all to be happy with his play. 

If he scores 10 to 15 goals... Gets 30 to 40 assists... And most importantly uses his size and reach to get to loose pucks and get them out of the zone before the opponents can get to him... Then I don't need him to be physical. 

In a way... Him learning to use his reach to clog up passing Lanes and to reach loose pucks and tip them away from the defender more effectively than a smaller guy does.. That's a form of using his size in a way I would accept.

All things being equal it will be great if he would be physical and hit more, but if he does the other things and uses his size positionally, he can be an effective two-way defenseman without it.

Edited 17 hours ago by mjd1001

[GoPuckYourself]

[LTS]

I'll take a player who is relentless.  He's not shown that ability and so muscle won't help him succeed. Now, if the muscle gives him the confidence to have success in adding a relentless quality to his game.. great.

[triumph_communes]

If he finally has a partner who is stay at home and reliable he will have a chance. He hasn’t had that in his career yet 

[LGR4GM]

6 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

When did the Inkification of Liger occur?

I don't think of Lidström as "mean" - by way of example.

I'll settle for Power being heavy and physical in his own end.

I don't think there's much, if any, "mean" to tap into with him.

Now you're arguing semantics. 

Power has never NEVER played heavy or physical. 

[LabattBlue]

2 hours ago, triumph_communes said:

If he finally has a partner who is stay at home and reliable he will have a chance. He hasn’t had that in his career yet 

That doesn't make him better in his own zone.  Just a partner to try and cover for his shortcomings.

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Now you're arguing semantics. 

Power has never NEVER played heavy or physical. 

That’s correct, not in college and not in the pros.  Until he learns to actually use his size to his advantage in the D zone and that includes clearing the front of the net, knocking people off the puck etc, he is a waste.  He is being paid top $ to be effective at both ends of the ice and really only does half the job.  To justify his compensation for just his O output, he needs to be a 70 pts player and his O skills aren’t good enough for that either.

Edited 12 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

That’s correct, not in college and not in the pros.  Until he learns to actually use his size to his advantage in the D zone and that includes clearing the front of the net, knocking people off the puck etc, he is a waste.  He is being paid top $ to be effective at both ends of the ice and really only does half the job.  To justify his compensation for just his O output, he needs to be a 70 pts player and his O skills aren’t good enough for that either.

I'm not disagreeing but it's funny how much people want him to basically be a better version of Risto. 

We have 3 top D men who all want to play offense. Nobody else has this. It's a problem. 

[That Aud Smell]

10 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Now you're arguing semantics. 

Power has never NEVER played heavy or physical. 

Right. I’m saying that I hope he will play heavy and physical.

It’s not semantics to distinguish playing physical and heavy from being “mean.”

 

[Demoted]

Off season fluff is all this is, you need to prove it on the ice for an ENTIRE season. 

[triumph_communes]

11 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

That doesn't make him better in his own zone.  Just a partner to try and cover for his shortcomings.

His issue is confidence imo. Following that theory then it could 

Edited 1 hour ago by triumph_communes

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

We have 3 top D men who all want to play offense. Nobody else has this. It's a problem. 

2 of which only want to play offense.   
 

By the way, I don’t want him to be Risto 2.0.  I don’t need him running around hitting everyone, all I want is for him to be better defensively and incorporate some physicality into his game.  I don’t think that is to much to ask.

[RangerDave]

2 hours ago, Demoted said:

Off season fluff is all this is, you need to prove it on the ice for an ENTIRE season. 

I agree.  Proof is in the pudding.  But the news that he is working hard to get stronger is an indication that he is now taking his craft seriously.  Hopefully that translates into being tougher to play against.