As reported by Arthur Staple, another talked-about deal has been confirmed, as Kyle Okposo signs a seven-year, $42MM deal with the Buffalo Sabres. The high-scoring winger stays in-state, but not in-division, moving from the Islanders in Brooklyn to the Sabres upstate.
Okposo has quietly blossomed into one of the NHL’s top scoring right wingers in recent years. Last season, he picked up 22 goals and 42 assists, good for sixth in points among NHL RW’s. That was enough to earn him the #2 ranking on PHR’s Top 50 free agents list. He spent a lot of his time alongside John Tavares and while some believe that doing so led to a lot of his points but Okposo has enough of a proven track record to show he’s a legitimate top liner in his own right.
Over the last three seasons, Okposo has averaged 22 goals and 39 assists. One area of concern is that over that span, he has missed 34 games due to various injuries and has a bit of a reputation for being an injury prone player. Still, at just 28 years of age and the fact he isn’t an overly physical player, there shouldn’t be much worry that his body will break down any time soon. Okposo should slot in as the top right winger for the Sabres next season and for several years to come.