Owen Power
A towering, smooth-skating defenseman who became the cornerstone of the Buffalo Sabres' rebuild as the first overall NHL draft pick.
Born 2002 (age 24)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: November 22·Generation Z
Biography
Owen Power's rise to the top of the hockey world felt almost preordained. The Mississauga native possessed a rare package for a defenseman: a frame well over six feet tall, coupled with poise and offensive instincts that belied his size. He chose the NCAA route, joining the University of Michigan, where his game matured against older competition. In a stacked 2021 draft class, his unique blend of reach, skating, and calm under pressure made him the unanimous choice for the Buffalo Sabres with the first overall selection. He returned to Michigan for a final, dominant season, leading his team to the Frozen Four before turning pro. Power stepped directly into the Sabres' lineup, logging major minutes and quarterbacking the power play from day one. He represents the modern NHL defenseman—a mobile giant capable of tilting the ice—and carries the hopes of a long-suffering franchise on his shoulders.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Owen was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Owen Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Owen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
- Won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and was a First Team All-American in his final season at the University of Michigan (2021-22).
- Helped lead Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
- Played a top-pairing role for the Sabres immediately upon joining the NHL, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game in his rookie season.
Did You Know?
He was the first defenseman to be selected first overall in the NHL draft since Aaron Ekblad in 2014.
He played on a historic Michigan team that featured a record-breaking five first-round picks in the 2021 NHL Draft.
He recorded his first NHL point (an assist) in his debut game on April 12, 2022.
His sister, Emma Power, plays NCAA hockey for the University of New Hampshire.
“I try to keep it simple and make the right play.”
