owen power

[Bill Rapai]

After a month off for the Christmas/WJC break, Michigan Hockey was back in action this past weekend against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Yost Ice Arena. It was an eventful series, with Michigan suffering a disastrous defeat on Friday night before rebounding to take the Saturday game 4-2. The split wasn't quite what Michigan wanted but it was acceptable considering the rustiness after such a break. Today we'll be talking about the OSU series, looking at the B1G and NCAA picture, and quickly checking in on the WJC results, NHL Draft notes, and Wolverines in the pros. 

 

Ohio State's Full-Court Press

The story of this past weekend's tussle with Ohio State was what the Buckeyes did tactically to give Michigan fits. Steve Rohlik dialed up a hyper-aggressive offensive zone forecheck, one that sent F1 (the first forechecker) deep into the zone, always below the goal line, to apply immediate puck pressure on whichever Wolverine was recovering the loose puck. The other two forwards F2 and F3, were providing aggressive support, either on-puck, or pinching on the walls to take away the first outlet passes. If a Michigan player tried to skate with the puck out of the zone, F1 would stay glued onto him and another forward would arrive quickly to hound the puck. Any chips of the wall were met with a hard pinch at the point by the defensemen as well. 

Here's what it looked like in action: 

Luke Hughes gets the puck in front of his own net, tries to skate it out of the zone, and is met with immediate puck pressure. F1 separates him from the puck and F2 is right there to scoop up the loose puck and keep the possession going. It resulted in a goal on that play, but many times it didn't- it merely kept Michigan hemmed in their zone for minutes at a time. Ohio State paired this aggressive strategy on dump-ins and retrievals with a shoot from everywhere approach to offense. They flung pucks at the net from all over, knowing that Erik Portillo's struggles to control rebounds this season would end with those pucks ricocheting to the boards, where their retrieval approach could recover them quickly. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: analysis and all-stars]

(Sarah McLachlan voice): I will remember you.... [James Coller]

Typically we do a formal exit post when someone big from basketball or football leaves the team, and sometimes that is the case for hockey. We did not do one last week even though there was a spate of exits precisely for that reason: so many big name players were exiting for NHL/AHL deals that doing one post for each would have left you all drowning in exit posts. Instead, it felt better to do one big piece that gives a short farewell to each player that is heading to pro hockey, with a bonus take on how they will do at the next level. So here goes the Hockey Exit Bonanza. 

 

[James Coller]

Exit: Owen Power 

First up is Michigan's towering defenseman, the #1 pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Power was signed by the Buffalo Sabres shortly after Michigan's season concluded and he made his NHL debut last weekend in Toronto against the Leafs. Power played two seasons at Michigan, scoring 32 points in 33 games this past season to earn All-America honors. Power's 6'6" height was his defining characteristic, but his ability to skate well and comfortability cycle down into the corners of the offensive zone made him a rare find. Given the typical dimensions of hockey players, it is quite possible Michigan will not have another player with Power's exact traits for several decades. Power played top minutes this season, often paired with either Nick Blankenburg or Keaton Pehrson, and also played heavily on the power play. 

His NHL potential: Power is someone I've generally been a bit lower on than some of the scouts, because I didn't feel like he was Michigan's best defenseman (I would say Luke Hughes for that) this season. I also was frustrated by Power's unwillingness to use his size while defending, but I will admit that the NCAA is a much softer game than the NHL. That said, the toolkit is absolutely there, and the Sabres will have plenty of opportunity to mold Power how they want him. Power was 17 when he enrolled at Michigan, meaning he's only 19 now, and defensemen take longer to develop in the league than forwards. Guys who are 6'6" and can skate don't come around every day. If he learns to be a bit more aggressive in his own end and plays the point well offensively, it's not inconceivable he could be Dougie Hamilton in three or four years. Even if he doesn't, Power will have a lengthy NHL career because Big Body Canadian Boys who play defense always do. 

 

[James Coller]

Exit: Kent Johnson 

The other name who signed quickly after Michigan's season ended was Kent Johnson, inking an entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him 5th overall last summer. Johnson played two seasons at Michigan, like Power, and was one of Michigan's highest scorers both seasons. Johnson never scored in double figures for goals, but racked up assists to boost his lofty point totals, scoring 37 this season in only 32 games. Like Power, Johnson played with Team Canada at the WJC and at the Olympics, meaning that he missed about a quarter of the season. Johnson spent most of his Michigan career on a line with Matty Beniers, playing the wing almost wire-to-wire, with one series against Minnesota in December 2020 being the exception. 

His NHL potential: Johnson is the player of this group that I'm most fascinated by when it comes to his NHL future. Johnson is a player with a clear set of skills, and also a clear set of weaknesses. Johnson has very good hands and the ability to make dangles/dekes that few other players can, even at the NHL level. His shot is also not bad at all. On the other hand, the aforementioned skill does not achieve as much as it should. He makes a lot of neat plays but they don't often lead to much of anything, and he had a tendency to rack up secondary assists that pad his point totals, which empirically are mostly random and not indicative of a player's success, generally speaking. Moreover, Johnson remains extremely skinny and does not engage physically in the corners. Finally, Johnson plays at a very slow pace, always preferring to slow the game down when the puck is on his stick rather than keep moving.

The concern with this approach to the game is pretty obvious when we're talking about the NHL: it is the fastest and biggest league in the world. Players in the NHL are far bigger, stronger, and more physical than the NCAA and if Johnson didn't want to play the physical side in college, what does that mean for the NHL? Additionally, NHLers take away time and space, and the hallmark of a great NHLer is one who can think and execute high-level plays on the fly. Johnson didn't show that much at Michigan. He's not going to get the same amount of time to stop and contemplate the play in the NHL.

Players who play a more meandering pace in the NHL tend to be big, burly players who give themselves that extra time because they can shield the puck from opponents with their body. These are folks like Ryan Getzlaf or Evgeni Malkin. Johnson is not that size and will never be. He's going to need to either figure out how to speed himself up, or completely change his approach. Drafting him in the top five was a major swing by Columbus and KJ will get his chance to make it work, but I have my concerns. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: More guys]

Beniers gets a goal! Brisson gets a goal! Power gets assists! (James Coller)

CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information and HERE for current Pairwise Rankings.

 

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

 

Total Attempts

Even Strength

Power Play

Close (within 1)

Even Strength %

Minnesota

77

61

16

28

60%

Michigan

41

41

0

19

40%

Forward Notes.

-For the most part, Michigan got caved in across the board on Saturday night. Minnesota carried play pretty much most of the night. Bryce Brodzinski was abandoned by Johnny Beecher (who followed his defenseman down low). He gave the Gophers an early lead. After that, though, despite getting many attempts on net, Minnesota could just not buy a finish.

-While Michigan did not get nearly the volume of chances that Minnesota did, they definitely took theirs very well. Matty Beniers and Brendan Brisson finished their golden chances late in the first period to somehow give the Wolverines a first period lead. The Bordeleau and Brisson line had a great shift in the second period, forcing a couple of DZTOs. Jackson Lacombe give one away and Mike Pastujov was able to squeak one through Justen Close to give Michigan a 3-1 lead.

-There’s no denying Kent Johnson’s talent or natural ability. But sometimes he just needs to shoot the puck. He got into the House a couple of different times with a good look at goal, and he opted for a fancy pass to a worse opportunity. If you’re near the slot, just have a go!

[Writeup after THE JUMP]

Michigan sends four active hockey players to the Beijing games (and two alumni!)

Olympics in the picture, the WJC down in flames, a cancelation kerfuffle, and a bulldozing of UMass. Lots going on!

One down. One to go. Back to work.

Some more roster breakdown, everyone's favorite kind of preview content. 

The boys are back in town.

That awkward moment when you land four of the top five picks in the NHL Draft 

Defense (sometimes) wins championships (in hockey). 

The first part of a series on hockey strategy, looking at offensive transition play.

Want to learn how college hockey operates? No? But it's offseason content, so you'll click on it all the same.

If they get Owen Power back I will go eee