What do the Buffalo Sabres do with Kyle Okposo following the season?
The Buffalo Sabres are extending their young talent, but what do they do with their older talent like the Captain, Kyle Okposo?
Kyle Okposo has been a valuable member of the Buffalo Sabres. And while he is older and on pace for just 35 points this season, it’s not farfetched that the Blue and Gold keep the aging winger around.
As it stands, Okposo is in the final season of a $42 million contract, earning a total salary of $4 million this season, per Cap Friendly. While the Sabres may look to get even younger and part ways with the veteran following the season, bringing him back will pay dividends for what will still be one of the NHL’s youngest rosters.
Okposo has shown sound leadership abilities this season, and he will continue that role for the remainder of the year. But with general manager Kevyn Adams looking to extend more young talent in the not-so-distant future, where does that leave Okposo?
Expect the Buffalo Sabres to re-sign Okposo to a smaller deal
You won’t be seeing more seven-year contracts for the 34-year-old, but something with a two-year length would be feasible. I could also see him returning for a dramatically reduced rate, something in the $1-$2 million range.
This would allow the Sabres to keep Okposo in a leadership/mentor role, regardless if he wears the C patch or if it gets passed to a younger player. But at the same time, it will free up cap space for the team to extend players like Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, as both will be in the final seasons of their respective contracts in 2023-24.
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Overall, Okposo’s role on the ice will remain limited to the fourth line as he reaches career twilight. But even beyond this season, he will still have a role with this team as a leader if he’s interested, and the current vibes are saying that he is.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
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