The Buffalo Sabres released their injury report today, and one name in particular drew plenty of attention. Veteran forward Kyle Okposo is out indefinitely with a concussion, a frightening injury for someone with his history of brain injuries. The team also announced that Tage Thompson, who didn’t even make it through his season debut, will be out three to five weeks with a shoulder injury.
Okposo, 31, has suffered multiple head injuries over the last few years, including one that put him in the Neuro Surgical ICU at Buffalo General Hospital in 2017. That was followed by a concussion in 2018 and another one in February when he was struck with a hard punch from Anthony DeAngelo.
The Sabres are starting to look awfully thin at forward as Okposo and Thompson join Vladimir Sobotka on the sideline, meaning their pursuit of another top-nine option could be amplified in the coming days. The team could potentially get even more salary cap relief by putting Okposo on long-term injured reserve if he is going to miss at least a month, though that is not clear at this point.
Okposo needs to end his career. It’s sad but it’s time.
Kinda wish you had worded that as “it may be time for Kyle to hang up the skates, for his own well-being.” That said, Kyle really should look into that possibility, especially if a doctor sees something bad on the horizon from a thorough medical exam. When you have a young family, you don’t want to mess around putting your face in the way of the proverbial saw blades anymore, so to speak.
I was talking the other day with some people, and jokingly made the comment Buffalo and Vegas should “re-do” the Colon Miller trade by just swapping Miller for Cody Eakin.
Maybe not so crazy now.
If I am the Sabres there is no way he returns this season. Going forward they could require at least 2 doctors to sign off him playing again.
Big Okposo fan. I was sad to see him leave Isles but I thought the team made the right decision back then. I didn’t think he was worth the money he was asking for. Unfortunately he didn’t really get a chance to prove his talent as it seems he is constantly injured primarily with head injuries. I hope he retires. He has a family to think about and this number of concussions can have lasting effects. He is a smart guy, Could easily get a player development or scouting position or just go to a lower level and coach if he wants to stay around the game.