Sabres ink former No. 1 overall pick to seven-year extension

Buffalo’s cornerstone defenders are now locked up together through the 2030-31 season. 

Rasmus Dahlin signed an eight-year, $88M extension two days ago that takes him through the 2031-32 campaign, one season past Power. Power’s agent, Pat Brisson, tells TSN’s Pierre LeBrun that extension talks accelerated over the past few days “with a mutual desire to get it done before opening night.”

It’s quite a significant long-term commitment for a player with just one full NHL season under their belt, but it’s a trend we’re seeing quickly come into view with young defensemen. 

The Ottawa Senators signed a similar eight-year, $64M extension with rising sophomore defender Jake Sanderson over a month ago.

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has not been shy about getting his core locked up long-term. Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens and Mattias Samuelsson are also all signed through at least the 2029-30 campaign.

Power, 20, finished third in Calder Trophy voting last season behind Edmonton Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner and former University of Michigan teammate and Kraken center Matthew Beniers. 

He notched 35 points in 79 contests and posted solid possession metrics, showing some room for improvement defensively but displayed the elite play-driving senses and 6-foot-6 frame that earned him the first-overall choice over two years ago.

Those numbers are even more impressive considering the role he was able to carve out for himself, still managing to average nearly 24 minutes per game despite playing second fiddle to Dahlin. His 23:48 average places him fifth all-time among defenders in their rookie season and the highest since Drew Doughty averaged 23:50 for the Kings in his rookie campaign, 2008-09.

The contract keeps Dahlin and Power anchoring the Sabres’ top two defense pairings for the better part of the next decade for a combined cost of $19.35M per season. CapFriendly now projects the Sabres with $25M in cap space next season with a roster size of 12. 

Their most notable unsigned talent for next season is center Casey Mittelstadt, who is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

On that note, this extension offers Power a direct path to unrestricted free agency after just his rookie season. The contract buys out two UFA seasons.

This season is the third and final one of his entry-level contract, meaning his services will come at the cost of just $917K against the cap for another year before the massive extension kicks in. 

He’s projected to reprise his role on the team’s second pairing behind Dahlin, likely flanked by Henri Jokiharju on his right.