Buffalo Sabres will be fine without Kyle Okposo in 2023-24
By Sion Fawkes
Kyle Okposo was the Buffalo Sabres undisputed leader in 2022-23, but if the aging forward retires, he left the team in good hands.
The Buffalo Sabres could be without their captain next season. Kyle Okposo, who was in a contract year, could call it quits as he remained noncommittal about returning. Okposo, who would be entering his 16th full season in the NHL and 17th overall, would return to a leadership role on and off the ice, and will again help man the fourth line should he play another year.
But if he decides he’s finished, no one in the Sabres fanbase should lose too much sleep over the decision. Okposo’s leadership is uncanny, but there are also plenty of other players more than ready to step up and guide this team through the inevitable waves and troughs.
Alex Tuch, despite not earning an A patch this past season, is the best candidate for the job. Often regarded as one of the Sabres most consistent forwards, Tuch found himself easing into a bit of a captaincy role without the official title.
Buffalo Sabres would be in good hands without Kyle Okposo next season
Rasmus Dahlin is another name that jumps out. An alternate captain this past year, Dahlin’s high-energy, leave it all on the ice approach turned him into one of the Buffalo Sabres most inspiring players. Starting in 2021-22, Dahlin became one of the more vocal players on the team, and that role only grew this past season.
Finally, there is Dylan Cozens. And while like Dahlin, he is a younger skater, Cozens did a sensational job leading a pair of rookies in Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka more often than not. It was basically Cozens’ leadership audition, and he aced the test despite playing in just his second full season, and third overall.
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Kyle Okposo left his mark on everyone who dressed in a blue and gold (or black, silver, and red) uniform this past season. And even if he isn’t there next year, he did more than enough to prep the likes of Tuch, Dahlin, and Cozens, among others, to ensure this team’s leadership won’t see a dip if he opts to head into retirement.
Source: Undecided about future, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo ‘proud’ of his role in turnaround by Lance Lysowski, BuffaloNews.com