NHL Free Agents: Kyle Okposo – Rumors, Best Fits

NHL Free Agents Kyle Okposo: Latest Rumors, FA Profile, 5 Best Fits

New York Islanders have a pair of quality NHL free agents to consider signing to a new deal. Can they re-sign Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen? one? or, maybe neither?

If GM Garth Snow is willing to pay the hefty price tag, it’s important they re-sign him for the right reasons.  Not to play alongside John Tavares, but forced into a proper second line setting.

Kyle Okposo has done a serviceable job accumulating north of 60 points in two of the last three years, but the Islanders continue to ask him to do too much.

More from Puck Prose

• Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
• This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
• 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
• 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
• This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings

The NYI have more than enough players similar to Okposo. When you consider he should be seeking that big-ticket contract players tend to look for around his age, the term/salary may be too lucrative for Garth Snow and company.

Kyle Okposo was selected 7th overall back in 2006 when he played for USHL Des Moines. He spent the next two years playing NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota before joining the Islanders for a nine-game (five points) stint at the end of 2007-08.

Okposo has since completed his eighth NHL season in 2015-16. Wearing the “A” on his jersey the past seven years, Kyle has steadily seen improvement in point production – how much did Johnny T help with that though?

Over his career, Kyle has 139 goals, 230 assists (369 points) in 529 regular season games. He also has seven goals, eight assists (15 points) in 24 postseason contests.

Kyle Okposo’s Resume:

– In his junior days, Kyle represented Team USA at the World Juniors in 2007 and 2008.
– Since entering the league, Okposo has three World Hockey Championship appearances (’09, ’10, ’12), and wore the “A” for Team USA in 2010.
– Okposo was named USHL Rookie of the Year in 2005-06
– He was an NCAA Champion in 2006-07

NHL Free Agents: Kyle Okposo Rumors/Speculation

via Newsday,

With the Islanders flush with forwards who can tally up points, there were reports around the 2015 NHL Draft weekend that GM Garth Snow was contemplating making a move. Newsday’s Artur Staple estimates that Okposo could be looking for as much as $7 million per season on a long-term deal. Okposo was not shopped at the trade deadline but will test his worth on the open market. 

According to a May 31 Newsday report, negotiations have not begun with Okposo nor fellow UFA Matt Martin. Only Frans Nielsen has been approached about working out an extension.

“I’ll have to reflect on the year and what’s next a couple days from now,” Okposo told reporters after the Islanders were eliminated by the Lightning.

Related Story: NHL Mock Draft 6.0: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis

Potential Contract for Kyle Okposo

When you hear reports that a player is looking for “blank” amount of money, that is normally an opening negotiation number.

More from Free Agency

• NHL free agents could still get contracts or camp invites
• Why any NHL team would be lucky to add Phil Kessel to their roster
• The New York Islanders made the right move extending Ilya Sorokin
• 2022-23 Recap Weaknesses and UFA Focused: Buffalo Sabres
• Arizona Coyotes Team Additions For 2022-23

Eric Staal was reported to open negotiations at $9 million dollars as a comparison. Especially in today’s cap world, don’t expect teams to be spending near that apparent $7 million dollar asking price for Kyle Okposo.

Instead, let’s use GeneralFanager to find which contracts could be used as comparable in negotiations.

*note: these are contracts an agent might use to their advantage in negotiations for leverage

Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets – 6 years/$6 million dollar cap hit
Ryan Callahan, Tampa Bay Lightning – 6 years/$5.8 million dollar cap hit
Travis Zajac, New Jersey Devils – 8 years/$5.75 million dollar cap hit
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets – 6 years/$5.6 million dollar cap hit
Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets – 6 years/$5.5 million dollar cap hit

Next: Free Agents: Steven Stamkos Latest Rumors, Best Fits

5 Best Fits

Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks