Sabre Noise
Fansided

Buffalo Sabres UFA Options – Playoffs Edition

By Richard Spalding

Mar 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry (10) congratulates forward Jamie McGinn (88) on his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry (10) congratulates forward Jamie McGinn (88) on his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Mar 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders center Anders Lee (R) celebrates a goal by right wing Kyle Okposo (21) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders center Anders Lee (R) celebrates a goal by right wing Kyle Okposo (21) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyle Okposo (22-42-64)

Age on July 1, 2016: 28

2015-16 salary cap hit: $2.8 million

Okposo may not be on the top of my list- he is going to ask for and receive a big paycheck, despite the fact that he will most likely never duplicate the success he enjoyed playing along John Tavares (cough Matt Moulson cough) – but then again, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want to see him skate with the Buffalo Sabres.

Whenever I hop onto Twitter and ask Sabres fans to discuss to pick a pending UFA they would like to see Buffalo pursue, Okposo’s name always seems to enter the conversation.  Okposo led the New York Islanders with 42 assists on the season, and was second on the team in points behind – obviously – Tavares.   He has topped 20 goals three times in his career, and has scored 50+ points four times, making him the only player on the Islanders’ current roster not named – yep- Tavares to boast such numbers.

Okposo does not exactly play a 200-foot game, and he’s going to ask for first-line money even though he is really a second-line player.  Fans who don’t want to see the Buffalo Sabres overpay for a guy will want to look elsewhere . . . but at some point, the Sabres are going to have to make a calculated risk that might involve over-paying for someone like Okposo.  At the very least, with Okposo the Sabres know they will be getting someone who has performed pretty well in the playoffs ( 6 goals and 3 assists in 14 career playoff games), and let’s face it: he’s not a guy coming off a career-year that will inflate his value.  This guy has been a steady point producer who also brings a physical presence to the offensive side of the ice, so keep your eye on him in these playoffs.

Next: Milan Lucic

Home/Sabres News