I am going to will a Tage Thompson 40-goal season into existence.
By the Numbers 📊
Record: 29-38-11 (69 points) | Division: 6th | League: 25th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 45.3% (28th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 43.8% (28th in the NHL)
The Power Hour
The biggest mistake one can make when evaluating Owen Power is thinking that he’s just another player who was drafted high because of his size.
Sure, Power’s physical attributes may have played a role in becoming the top prospect available in the 2021 NHL Draft. However, it’s the skill he stacks on top of those physical attributes that make him such a special prospect.
It doesn’t take long for one to notice that Power does a lot of little things right. These little things all accumulate into positive possession metrics.
He also does a lot of “big” things right. Aggressive pinches in the offensive zone, net drives, joining the rush as the 4th forward, etc.
Just check out some of these shifts from his game against the Blues:
The best way to describe Owen Power’s game in the offensive zone is a 6’6” human version of an “if-then” statement. There is an overarching identity to the way he moves in the offensive zone, yet it is anything but predictable. He is elite at making the proper reads at the right time to enhance danger.
There are some elements to his game that may need some ironing out at the NHL level, but those should be ironed out in due time. His defensive impacts should improve as he continues to gel with his new teammates as the proper techniques are there.
It’s safe to say that Owen Power has the potential to be something special at the NHL level. Add him to a Sabres defense group that already includes Rasmus Dahlin and you are cooking with fire
Rasmus Asplund: Buffalo’s secret weapon
Rasmus Asplund has been the unsung hero of this 2021/22 Buffalo Sabres team. No, his box score stats do not really jump off the page and he’s only shooting a mediocre 6.5%. His defensive impacts, however, have been elite.
According to Evolving-Hockey’s Goals Above Replacement metric, Asplund ranks 6th (!) among NHL forwards in Defensive Goals Above Replacement. He only sits behind names like Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Auston Matthews.
He has basically been a Swiss Army knife on the wing for this Sabres squad: providing high-end defensive impacts while not taking much away from the offensive side of the puck:
Asplund will continue to be a very useful piece for the Sabres as they continue to inject youth throughout their lineup during this rebuild. He has the ability to play a 200-foot game from the wing and inject positive defensive impacts into any line he’s placed on. He’s the perfect defensive counter-balance to any youthful, offensive line.
Prospects Update: Amerks making a playoff push
The Rochester Americans are back in a playoff spot after a 3-2 shootout win over the Springfield Falcons. Jack Quinn scored an impressive (and borderline legal, but I’ll certainly take it) shootout goal to get the Amerks the much needed win:
The qualification for the 2022 AHL Playoffs will be determined by points percentage since an unequal amount of games have been played due to COVID-19 cancellations. Based on that metric, the Amerks currently sit in the 5th and final playoff spot in the North Division:
The 4th and 5th spots in the North Division will play a 3-game playoff for the 4th and final playoff spot, so it will be a long journey for the Amerks even if they do qualify for the playoffs. These last four regular-season games will be huge with the Toronto Marlies right on their tail.
Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ New Jersey Devils, 4/20/22
Devils By The Numbers
Record: 27-42-7 (61 points) | Division: 7th | League: 27th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 48.7% (18th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 51.1% (21st in the NHL)
Scouting the Devils
Bad Goaltending: there are not enough adjectives to describe how bad the Devils goaltending has been this season. Only 4 teams since 2007/08 have managed to get sub-.900 SV% goaltending at 5v5, the 2021/22 Devils are on track to become the 5th
Transition Play: the Devils are one of the better transition teams in the NHL and rank 2nd in controlled zone entry % in the NHL according to Corey Sznajder’s tracked data. Their issues stem from attempting to turn those zone entries into dangerous results
Players to Watch
Owen Power (BUF): the big guy will be the player to watch for the remainder of the Sabres’ season. It’s not often that you see a 6’6”, 19-year-old defenseman comfortably step into an offensive-minded NHL role like Power
Dawson Mercer (NJD): with Jack Hughes out, I’m going to go Dawson Mercer here. He has had a remarkable campaign as a 20-year-old rookie and has shown the ability to do a bit of everything
The Week Ahead
Saturday, April 23: vs. NY Islanders, 12:30 PM ET (TV: MSG)