<p>On today’s episode of <em>Canucks Conversation</em>, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed the ongoing trade speculation involving Elias Pettersson and why, if the Canucks were to move him, Owen Power should be the primary target from the Buffalo Sabres.</p>
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<p>Harm opened the discussion by addressing the initial trade rumours that centred around Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram as potential returns for Pettersson.</p>
<p>“Initially, there was a lot of discussion around the idea of Cozens and Byram,” Harm said. “I wasn’t a big fan of that idea, but if you go down that road of trading Pettersson, the guy to get from Buffalo would be Owen Power. I didn’t think he would be available, given his stature and being a former number one pick, but seeing Sabres fans talk about Power’s situation and how many defencemen they have stocked on the left side of the blue line, even our colleagues who cover the Sabres haven’t ruled out the idea of throwing Power into a potential proposal for Pettersson.&#8221;</p>
<p>Power, 22, is in his fourth year in the NHL after being the first overall pick back in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He&#8217;s tallied 18 goals and 79 assists across 213 career games. Harm noted why he’s a more valuable return than Byram, citing his younger age and star potential despite some current defensive struggles.</p>
<p>“To me, if it’s now Power and Cozens, that’s way more appealing to me than Byram being part of it for a number of reasons,” he said. “Power is younger than Byram, and he has legit star potential. He’s had a bit of a down year defensively, and he’s on a big contract that pays him an $8.35 million cap hit, but I asked around execs in the Eastern Conference, and I’ve heard they believe Power has shades of developing into a Werenski or Bouchard-type defenceman. If we’re talking about a guy who could be an excellent number two behind Hughes, and you can get a Dylan Cozens back, that’s more appealing. I still wouldn’t trade Pettersson, but if they’re dead set on trading him, that’s your best shot of recouping close to full value — getting Owen Power in that type of deal.&#8221;</p>
<p>The 6’6&#8243; Mississauga native is in the second year of a seven-year, $8.35 million average annual value (AAV) contract he signed in 2023. Quads pointed out that Buffalo’s front office, led by GM Kevyn Adams, has focused on trying to help Power develop his defensive game, which has been the biggest criticism of his play so far.</p>
<p>“Kevyn Adams has talked about Owen Power in the sense of trying to get him to learn to defend,” said Quads. “My opinion on him is that he is the defenceman that people who haven’t watched Quinn Hughes thought Quinn Hughes was — really good offensively but can’t defend. Do you think he can learn the defensive side of the game? That’s been the biggest criticism out of Buffalo so far. He’s also 6’6&#8243;, so obviously I’m on board.&#8221;</p>
<p>Power has his defensive shortcomings, but his offensive abilities make him a valuable asset, especially for a team like Vancouver, which desperately needs another high-end puck-mover on the back end.</p>
<p>“I don’t think he’s ever going to be above average defensively. But could he get to a point where he’s competent defensively and be a legit number two defenceman in the NHL? Absolutely,” said Harm. “People look at him at 6’6&#8243; and think he should be a Zdeno Chara-type player, but that’s not him at all. He likes to rush the puck, will help you on breakouts — which is what this team needs — he can activate in the offensive zone, but he’s not ever going to be as physical or defensively imposing as Zdeno Chara. He’s an offensive defenceman who skates really well and can make a lot of plays in the body of Chara, which is still a special player with star upside. I still believe he can learn the defensive side at least to a point where he’s competent.&#8221;</p>
<p>Even with Power’s potential, Harm admitted that he still wouldn’t rush into a deal that included both Power and Cozens for Pettersson, largely due to the salary cap implications.</p>
<p>“If you asked me today if I would do Power and Cozens for Pettersson straight up, I would still lean towards no because Power and Cozens combined are over $15 million against the cap, so I don’t necessarily love the bang-for-buck you’re getting on those contracts, especially on Cozens.&#8221;</p>
<p>As trade speculation continues to swirl around the Canucks, Power remains one of the most intriguing possible returns for Pettersson. Whether Buffalo would be willing to part with the former first-overall pick remains to be seen, but if the Canucks do go down this road, targeting Power might be their best bet at securing a long-term solution on the blue line.</p>
<p>You can watch the full segment below:</p>
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On today’s episode of <em>Canucks Conversation</em>, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed the ongoing trade speculation involving Elias Pettersson and why, if the Canucks were to move him, Owen Power should be the primary target from the Buffalo Sabres.
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Harm opened the discussion by addressing the initial trade rumours that centred around Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram as potential returns for Pettersson.

“Initially, there was a lot of discussion around the idea of Cozens and Byram,” Harm said. “I wasn’t a big fan of that idea, but if you go down that road of trading Pettersson, the guy to get from Buffalo would be Owen Power. I didn’t think he would be available, given his stature and being a former number one pick, but seeing Sabres fans talk about Power’s situation and how many defencemen they have stocked on the left side of the blue line, even our colleagues who cover the Sabres haven’t ruled out the idea of throwing Power into a potential proposal for Pettersson."

Power, 22, is in his fourth year in the NHL after being the first overall pick back in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He's tallied 18 goals and 79 assists across 213 career games. Harm noted why he’s a more valuable return than Byram, citing his younger age and star potential despite some current defensive struggles.

“To me, if it’s now Power and Cozens, that’s way more appealing to me than Byram being part of it for a number of reasons,” he said. “Power is younger than Byram, and he has legit star potential. He’s had a bit of a down year defensively, and he’s on a big contract that pays him an $8.35 million cap hit, but I asked around execs in the Eastern Conference, and I’ve heard they believe Power has shades of developing into a Werenski or Bouchard-type defenceman. If we’re talking about a guy who could be an excellent number two behind Hughes, and you can get a Dylan Cozens back, that’s more appealing. I still wouldn’t trade Pettersson, but if they’re dead set on trading him, that’s your best shot of recouping close to full value — getting Owen Power in that type of deal."

The 6’6" Mississauga native is in the second year of a seven-year, $8.35 million average annual value (AAV) contract he signed in 2023. Quads pointed out that Buffalo’s front office, led by GM Kevyn Adams, has focused on trying to help Power develop his defensive game, which has been the biggest criticism of his play so far.

“Kevyn Adams has talked about Owen Power in the sense of trying to get him to learn to defend,” said Quads. “My opinion on him is that he is the defenceman that people who haven’t watched Quinn Hughes thought Quinn Hughes was — really good offensively but can’t defend. Do you think he can learn the defensive side of the game? That’s been the biggest criticism out of Buffalo so far. He’s also 6’6", so obviously I’m on board."

Power has his defensive shortcomings, but his offensive abilities make him a valuable asset, especially for a team like Vancouver, which desperately needs another high-end puck-mover on the back end.

“I don’t think he’s ever going to be above average defensively. But could he get to a point where he’s competent defensively and be a legit number two defenceman in the NHL? Absolutely,” said Harm. “People look at him at 6’6" and think he should be a Zdeno Chara-type player, but that’s not him at all. He likes to rush the puck, will help you on breakouts — which is what this team needs — he can activate in the offensive zone, but he’s not ever going to be as physical or defensively imposing as Zdeno Chara. He’s an offensive defenceman who skates really well and can make a lot of plays in the body of Chara, which is still a special player with star upside. I still believe he can learn the defensive side at least to a point where he’s competent."

Even with Power’s potential, Harm admitted that he still wouldn’t rush into a deal that included both Power and Cozens for Pettersson, largely due to the salary cap implications.

“If you asked me today if I would do Power and Cozens for Pettersson straight up, I would still lean towards no because Power and Cozens combined are over $15 million against the cap, so I don’t necessarily love the bang-for-buck you’re getting on those contracts, especially on Cozens."

As trade speculation continues to swirl around the Canucks, Power remains one of the most intriguing possible returns for Pettersson. Whether Buffalo would be willing to part with the former first-overall pick remains to be seen, but if the Canucks do go down this road, targeting Power might be their best bet at securing a long-term solution on the blue line.

You can watch the full segment below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QseVrjINSJY&amp;t=2184s

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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