Kyle Okposo looks to have found his home for the foreseeable future, as he will reportedly join the Buffalo Sabres.
Obviously anything's subject to change, I suppose, but I'm being told Okposo to the #sabres is all but a lock #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2016
Okposo was arguably the best forward available this summer, with names like Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson in the mix as well. The 28-year old right-wing has been very productive, netting 139 goals and 369 points through 529 NHL games with the Islanders. New York originally drafted Okposo with their first round pick (7th overall) in 2006.
Okposo will join a team on the rise in Buffalo, playing alongside names like Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane. A young team that’s packed with talent and seemingly on pace to be a contender in the near future. While Okposo does carry some injury concern, his skill and physicality will be a welcomed addition to the Sabres, who finished seventh in the Atlantic Division last season with a record of 35-36-11.
Details on his contract haven’t been announced, and likely won’t until free agency officially opens at noon. However, Insiders around the league have speculated that it’s a seven-year deal in the ballpark of $6 million per year. Okposo is coming off a deal with the Islanders that carried an annual average value of $2.8 million.
UPDATE: As previously speculated, Okposo’s new deal is for seven years and carries an annual average value of $6 million.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/748914075522830336
Buffalo still has plenty of cap space to work with this summer, though they’ve also extended qualifying offers to seven restricted free agents.
