NHL Insider Connects Edmonton Oilers to Recent First Overall Draft Pick in Trade

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Liam McCormick
November 28, 2024 (6:20 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers are in the market for a defenceman to add in trade this season, NHL insider Jeff Marek raised a few interesting options from the Buffalo Sabres, including 2021 first overall pick Own Power.

When speaking with Oilers Nation today, Marek named the Sabres as a prime trading partner for the Oilers this year, and listed some potential players on the move out of Buffalo.

»Everybody knows what is at stake with the Buffalo Sabres. Dylan Cozens has had a really rough season. Jack Quinn has had a rough start as well. You guys were mentioning Bowen Byram, and he may just end up killing them in arbitration if he's still with the Sabres and it gets there. The name Owen Power has been whispered out there as well.»
- Jeff Marek

Raising younger defenceman like Bowen Byram and Owen Power as potential options is extremely interesting.

Many have expected the Oilers to target a proven veteran for the blue line, but the the Oilers have been reliably connected to 21 year old David Jiricek. Perhaps seeking a younger, cost controlled option for the future is a priority for Edmonton.

Owen Power was drafted first overall by the Sabres in 2021, and has played 185 career NHL games already. This season, his offence has taken a major step forward, scoring 3 goals and 15 points in 22 games. Impressively, Power's had a positive on-ice rating every year of his career in Buffalo.

Bowen Byram is just one year older at 23 years old, and has played only one more career game than Power. Byram's had some defensive shortcomings in his time with the Sabres and Colorado Avalanche, but again he's a talented puck moving defender - and a Stanley Cup Champion.

Both defenceman are young, left shot, puck moving defenceman that are cost controlled for years. They're a bit riskier additions than veterans because they have more to learn, but it's possible that both players could improve defensively on a much better Oilers team.

Also, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer has recently been banging the drum that the Oilers could acquire an off the radar defenceman.

Stauffer specifically mentioned left shot puck moving defenceman with term, which directly lines up with both Byram and Power.

These defenceman could come at a very high cost in trade, but being potentially long term pieces for Edmonton, that prove could be worth it. We'll see how Edmonton decides to move forward.