Buffalo Sabres: Kyle Okposo is team’s Comeback Player of the Year

Every NHL team has one player that they should crown Comeback Player of the Year. For the Buffalo Sabres, it’s Kyle Okposo. 

This time last season, the Buffalo Sabres had every right to wonder whether forward Kyle Okposo was going to be in a blue and gold uniform heading into the 2021-22 season. The Sabres as a whole were a terrible hockey team and hardly a single player looked as though they belonged in the NHL.

Rasmus Dahlin regressed perhaps more than any other Sabre. This year, he’s arguably the Team MVP. Tage Thompson’s career was hanging by a thread, having impressed the Sabres so much he was basically an afterthought on the roster. Jeff Skinner was heading in the same route as Dahlin as a player who regressed beyond measure.

Then the Sabres got rid of Sam Reinhart while it became clear Jack Eichel wanted nothing to do with them. And Okposo had not been a relevant contributor for the Sabres since 2017-18.

Kyle Okposo is easily the Buffalo Sabres Comeback Player of the Year

Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, Okposo appeared in 165 games and logged 61 points, 25 goals, and 31 assists. His average ice time never eclipsed 14 minutes, and his greatest contribution came in winning the face-off battle, posting a 51.56% winning percentage.

Fast-forward to 2021-22 and through 72 games, Okposo is fifth on the team in points with 43. His 16:47 minutes of average ice time is his highest since 2017-18, and he has remained relevant on face-offs.

But Okposo’s production is just a snippet of his overall value to the Sabres: At 34, he has evolved into a leader for a franchise that has grown increasingly younger.

Okposo realizes his best playing days are probably behind him and he will be no more than a third-liner on most nights, giving way to the younger talent. But he has also shown he can still produce at a higher level, and that age doesn’t necessarily mean regression.

Look for Okposo to remain in Buffalo and build off of this season’s success. Both for himself and for a Buffalo Sabres team looking for more in the near-future.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)