Kyle Okposo is back

[LTS]

12 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Yes!  Who cares about striving to make the playoffs, as long as they "care about their players".    I am surprised they lowballed KO.  His value on and off the ice was worth a raise not a pay cut.  He is getting screwed.  Should be a multi-year deal with a future ownership stake.

/sarcasm off

What's the point of this response? Clearly not even remotely the argument being made for having signed him to a 1 year contract. Resorting to dismissive behavior is a sure sign that you have no reasonable response. There's reasonable statements as to how this helps the team.

10 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

You dont think the captain is Guaranteed a roster spot ?

 

 

I don't even think Okposo would let himself be guaranteed  He's not that guy...

5 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

Its all about those motivational speeches.

Cant wait to watch him not producing in the playoffs 

So you have them making the playoffs?  Good to know they'll be winning more.

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

I mention Kyle being platooned.  Keeps him fresher, gives ice to someone like Rousek or Jost.  

As for the concussion comment, Kyle knows the risks his is taking.  

I trust that Adams and DG understand if this group still needs him.  Let’s hope Kyle stays healthy and productive, and the team makes the playoffs.   That will be another positive step for the organization in culture setting. 
 

IF Okposo were to truly get platooned, am much more on board with this move.  Just don't expect to see that and expect him to play great out of the gate this year (expect this team is already ready for it to be October and will come out of the gate flying like they normally do; the difference being they won't have a November or December with so few W's an old time retired rail worker can count them on 1 hand) and those that are thrilled that Kyle is back will be crowing from every roof, but also expect his to run out of gas sometime in November and he'll be a liability after that.  Hoping that's an overly pessimistic take.  Really like Okposo as a person and like what he's brought to the team in terms of culture change the past 2 seasons. 

IF they keep him fresh all year, fine put him back in his role.  But still would've preferred they bring back Girgensons and also bring in a vet 4C PK specialist.  And Kyle didn't get much PK time at all last year; he got some, but not much.  That 4C would be replacing his 5v5 play (Krebs or Jost could easily slide to wing at 5v5 should they be on the 4th line this coming season) but would definitely be upgrading the PK.

[Doohicksie]

3 hours ago, klos1963 said:

Nothing failed,  just got bored with his manifesto. 

You really consider that an attack? 

Well maybe not attack as such, but a comment about the poster, not what was posted.

[Marvin]

If I just consider the salary Okposo is getting and think only about what kind of player gets that term and salary, I would infer that:

1. Okposo will be more like 10th in average TOI next season rather than the 6th like he was this season;

2. He and management realise that his age may necessitate games off, particularly on back-to-backs.

[Pimlach]

9 minutes ago, Taro T said:

IF Okposo were to truly get platooned, am much more on board with this move.  Just don't expect to see that and expect him to play great out of the gate this year (expect this team is already ready for it to be October and will come out of the gate flying like they normally do; the difference being they won't have a November or December with so few W's an old time retired rail worker can count them on 1 hand) and those that are thrilled that Kyle is back will be crowing from every roof, but also expect his to run out of gas sometime in November and he'll be a liability after that.  Hoping that's an overly pessimistic take.  Really like Okposo as a person and like what he's brought to the team in terms of culture change the past 2 seasons. 

IF they keep him fresh all year, fine put him back in his role.  But still would've preferred they bring back Girgensons and also bring in a vet 4C PK specialist.  And Kyle didn't get much PK time at all last year; he got some, but not much.  That 4C would be replacing his 5v5 play (Krebs or Jost could easily slide to wing at 5v5 should they be on the 4th line this coming season) but would definitely be upgrading the PK.

We could still retain ZG. I just think he might get a better offer term wise somewhere else. 

[Taro T]

Just now, Pimlach said:

We could still retain ZG. I just think he might get a better offer term wise somewhere else. 

The Sabres definitely could keep Girgensons and kind of expect that to happen too.  But the dream of the vet 4C PK specialist is pretty much gone at this point.  Am expecting with at least 1 more (and ideally 2 more) actual USEFUL D brought in that the team will be running 8D for the most part which only puts 13 Fs on the roster.  Even with Hinostroza walking and Olofsson traded if Z comes back there is room for 1 of Savoie or Rousek to make the roster if Jost is the regular 13th F.  And if Z is gone, then there's room for both Savoie and Rousek (provided they both earn it) but very little room for any other changes.

[...]

50 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Well maybe not attack as such, but a comment about the poster, not what was posted.

Technically I believe it'd be called an abusive ad hominem fallacy.

[klos1963]

20 minutes ago, ... said:

Technically I believe it'd be called an abusive ad hominem fallacy.

Are your feelings hurt?

[JohninMinn.]

I like Kyle but it might be time to like him as a player- coach in Cincinnati .

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, klos1963 said:

Are your feelings hurt?

Does it matter?  It was not germane to the discussion.

[RochesterExpat]

21 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I will vehemently disagree with any notion that JJP and Krebs are "vulnerable" in the way Okposo is. Okposo knows that he might get some healthy scratches, highly unlikely and basically impossible we see that for JJP or Krebs.

We're not in disagreement there and I apologize for the confusion. I grouped them together because I don't consider them part of the Skinner, Tuch, TT, Mitts, Cozens, and Quinn group quite yet. I think JJP and Krebs are more likely to remain on the roster than Okposo. Krebs has shown he can play as a 4th liner and will certainly be given ice time over Okposo if that type of scenario were to ever unfold. I'm willing to bet this is JJP's breakout season, but it doesn't alter the fact Quinn was getting the added ice time at the end of the season. That would suggest to me that JJP is more "vulnerable" than Quinn. I fully expect him to play a full season. It's just in terms of tiers, I'd put them outside the other 6.

18 hours ago, JohnC said:

You can count on Greenway earning a roster spot. I'm not going to argue with you that VO and Jost positions on this team are solidified. If Greenway is not on the third line with Mitts, he will be on another line. The coach who advocated for his acquisition the most was the HC. The Sabres gave up a second-round pick for him. You can count on him being introduced to the crowd on opening night at home. 

I should clarify that vulnerable doesn't mean he's not going to be on the opening night roster. I fully expect him to be on the opening night roster as well. Greenway's headwind that leaves him more vulnerable (in my opinion) is just the shorter amount of time he's spent in the organization. Joining at the trade deadline plus injuries didn't help him. He didn't really find his spot in the roster as a result. Hence why I put him in that group.

He's also a role player and there's not anyone threatening to really take his role as it is anyway. It would be odd for the Sabres to sign or trade for someone to supplant him considering, as you pointed out, they gave up a 2nd round pick for him already. If the Sabres make the playoffs, they're going to need to add another Greenway if anything.

Edited May 26, 2023 by RochesterExpat

[LGR4GM]

Kyle Okposo just being awesome

 

[JohnC]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Kyle Okposo just being awesome

 

Anyone who has watched the opposing team's broadcast of Sabre games recognizes that the outsider's view of the Sabres is very high. In general, I would say that it is higher than the locals' view. There has been a dramatic perception change over the past couple of years. The point of demarcation came when KA took over and in relative short order reworked and remade the roster. 

[JohnC]

On 5/25/2023 at 4:23 PM, GoPuckYourself said:

Just stop the guy was barely noticeable last season. 

You are wrong. His line was one of the better defensive lines in the league. Without question he was an instrumental player on that line. At the end of season playoff run, Granato constantly put his line on the ice to stymie the other team's best line as the game was winding down. Just because at this stage in his career he isn't much of a scorer doesn't mean that his role as a fourth line player isn't important. 

[LabattBlue]

2 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You are wrong. His line was one of the better defensive lines in the league.

Stats to back that up?

 

PS He was also a key part of one of the worst PK units in the league. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Kyle Okposo just being awesome

Another Sabre turned GM in the offing ?

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

You are wrong. His line was one of the better defensive lines in the league. Without question he was an instrumental player on that line. At the end of season playoff run, Granato constantly put his line on the ice to stymie the other team's best line as the game was winding down. Just because at this stage in his career he isn't much of a scorer doesn't mean that his role as a fourth line player isn't important. 

We could probably argue about this but it's a matter opinion I believe, he's on the Sabres so I'll be rooting for him to succeed obviously. 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Another Sabre turned GM in the offing ?

When he retires he will bocome the Sabres AGM.  That's what I think everyone wants.  I like the idea.

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Stats to back that up?

 

PS He was also a key part of one of the worst PK units in the league. 

There were many factors why the PK was horrendous. He wasn't the problem. Sometimes stats aren't as illuminating as people think. They don't often give the context in which the numbers are accumulated. In the end of season playoff chase the team tightened up defensively.  His line was a factor for that improvement by working against the top lines of the many good teams it faced. 

There are reasons associated with leadership factoring into his returning back this upcoming season. It's not in dispute that he is a contributor more on the defensive end than on offensive end. That's the role that fourth liners perform. My point is that he is not a liability to this team. If he were, he would have retired and worked for the organization in some compacity. 

[French Collection]

Slow news day for hockey so I was looking at some older Cup winners, dreaming of the Sabres rise.

Okposo makes me think of Ed Westfall and the New York Islanders.
Westfall was an established veteran who joined the Islanders in their inaugural season and took on the captaincy to lead them through their formative years. His game started to fall off just as they were becoming a really good team. He retired, turning the team over to the young core of Potvin, Trottier, Bossy, Gillies, Tonelli and Smith. Those guys went on to 5 straight finals and 4 consecutive Cups.

[Cheektorado]

On 5/25/2023 at 8:18 PM, Taro T said:

IF Okposo were to truly get platooned, am much more on board with this move.  Just don't expect to see that and expect him to play great out of the gate this year (expect this team is already ready for it to be October and will come out of the gate flying like they normally do; the difference being they won't have a November or December with so few W's an old time retired rail worker can count them on 1 hand) and those that are thrilled that Kyle is back will be crowing from every roof, but also expect his to run out of gas sometime in November and he'll be a liability after that.  Hoping that's an overly pessimistic take.  Really like Okposo as a person and like what he's brought to the team in terms of culture change the past 2 seasons. 

IF they keep him fresh all year, fine put him back in his role.  But still would've preferred they bring back Girgensons and also bring in a vet 4C PK specialist.  And Kyle didn't get much PK time at all last year; he got some, but not much.  That 4C would be replacing his 5v5 play (Krebs or Jost could easily slide to wing at 5v5 should they be on the 4th line this coming season) but would definitely be upgrading the PK.

KO coming back as the captain is good news to me but as you said his gas tank will need to be monitored.  There had to be some long talks between KO and GMKA/HCDG about his role this season.  I'm speculating here, but it wouldn't surprise me if KO gets a few "mysterious" nagging injuries throughout the season.  It will give him rest and maybe just be the opportunity to bring up some young guys for some looks.

Beside the 4D and goalie, a 4C PK (with some decent playoff experience) has been my hope all offseason.  I have no idea who is still out there in FA (or in a trade) to fill that role, but I'm still hoping that happens.

[sweetlou]

2 hours ago, Cheektorado said:

KO coming back as the captain is good news to me but as you said his gas tank will need to be monitored.  There had to be some long talks between KO and GMKA/HCDG about his role this season.  I'm speculating here, but it wouldn't surprise me if KO gets a few "mysterious" nagging injuries throughout the season.  It will give him rest and maybe just be the opportunity to bring up some young guys for some looks.

Beside the 4D and goalie, a 4C PK (with some decent playoff experience) has been my hope all offseason.  I have no idea who is still out there in FA (or in a trade) to fill that role, but I'm still hoping that happens.

Can Okposo convince another old buddy in Jonathan Toews to come in on a cheap contract for one year?  $2 milliion

He can center the 4th line and help on the PK.  Still great at face offs winning over 60% of his draws

[inkman]

On 7/2/2023 at 10:59 AM, LabattBlue said:

Stats to back that up?

 

PS He was also a key part of one of the worst PK units in the league. 

Well as they say, you goaltender is your best PKer, so I’m not going to put too much stock in those numbers as Tokarski and Houser were playing games in Buffalo. 

[Buffalonill]

37 minutes ago, sweetlou said:

Can Okposo convince another old buddy in Jonathan Toews to come in on a cheap contract for one year?  $2 milliion

He can center the 4th line and help on the PK.  Still great at face offs winning over 60% of his draws

It probably take 4-5m for toews to pick buffalo 

 

[Weave]

54 minutes ago, sweetlou said:

Can Okposo convince another old buddy in Jonathan Toews to come in on a cheap contract for one year?  $2 milliion

He can center the 4th line and help on the PK.  Still great at face offs winning over 60% of his draws