Power, chosen No. 1 by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft, doesn't have the gawdy offensive numbers (23 points; four goals, 19 assists) as some other rookies this season, but he has played a top-pair role while leading first-year players in average time on ice (23:45). Buffalo had controlled 53.4 percent of all shots attempted at 5-on-5 with Power on the ice.
"What [Power] does on a nightly basis is just amazing when you factor in his age (20) and lack of experience in our league," Sabres coach Don Granato said, "to dominate situations and really full games the way he does. I know he hasn't been talked about for rookie of the year. It's astonishing to me because of how he couldn't be."
Beniers, meanwhile, leads rookies with 15 even-strength goals and 36 even-strength points.
"He has a natural presence and a confidence that doesn't come with any arrogance," Hakstol said. "It's an easy presence and he's a [heck] of a player. There are challenges he's dealt with, he's run up against some bumps in the road, but he's handled them all really well. So, the qualities that I mentioned I believe are really important to him in his success."
Beniers missed two games with an upper-body injury in January and has nine points (two goals, seven assists) and 21 shots on goal in 14 games since returning to the lineup Feb. 7.
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Matty Beniers, Kraken, 74 points (14 first-place votes); Logan Thompson, Golden Knights, 49; Owen Power, Sabres, 36 (1); Mason McTavish, Ducks, 22; Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers, 16; Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators, 7; Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets, 5; Matias Maccelli, Arizona Coyotes, 4; Calen Addison, Minnesota Wild, 4; Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars, 2; Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets, 2; Shane Pinto, Senators, 1; Kirill Marchenko, Blue Jackets, 1; Jack Quinn, Sabres, 1; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, 1