Kyle Okposo has never scored 20 goals as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
He came close his first year in Western New York when he tallied 19 goals in 65 games during the 2016-17 season, back when the Sabres were trying to establish a core comprised of Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen and the former linemate of John Tavares.
All of those players are gone now, of course, with the exception of the St. Paul, Minnesota native. The intervening time has proven to be a gauntlet for the right winger as he’s battled injuries, poor coaching, changing roles and an ever-evolving roster of players who have been tasked with pulling a formerly proud franchise out of a death spiral.
Through it all, Okposo is still standing.
He is likely to finally hit the 20-goal mark this year in his sixth season in Buffalo. Don Granato’s Sabres have five games left and Okposo already has 19 goals on the season, meaning he only needs one more to hit an elusive milestone that he so richly deserves. Make no mistake: everyone on this team including head coach Don Granato knows how close he is, and they will give him every opportunity to hit the 20-goal mark if it means double-shifting him in game 82 while nursing a 1-goal lead.
I’ve never been in the prognostication business, but Okposo will get there. It feels destined at this point.
Okposo’s time in Buffalo has been marred by brushes with incredibly scary head injuries that derailed his career at various points, as was so eloquently described in Tim Graham’s piece in the Athletic which outlined the dark chasm Okposo spiraled into during the 2016-17 season. That piece is well worth a read for anyone who hasn’t read it, and Okposo courageously opened up to shed a light on the misunderstood and under-reported world of traumatic brain injuries. Anyone who has experienced a brain injury – or those who have supported loved ones with brain injuries – knows how debilitating, unpredictable and deeply depressing they can be.
In a letter to the fan base in July of 2017, Okposo heart-breakingly articulated those feelings, along with his desire to be more than just a hockey player.
Dealing with an injury like this can change your perspective on life. It makes you evaluate what's truly important. Hockey, of course, is extremely important to me. It's my job, and it's what I've done my whole life. But in saying that, I also don't want hockey to define me as a person. I want to be somebody who is known as a good person first and foremost.
Listening to Buffalo’s grandpa, Rick Jeanneret, refer to Okposo as the “dad” of this young Sabres core during Sabres telecasts really drives home how far he’s come from the 28-year-old free agent who was meant to put a young promising core over the top, to the elder statesman whose continued presence here reflects far more than his 19 goals on the season. Now 33, Okposo represents the conscience and heartbeat of a young Sabres team that is attempting to win back a jaded fan base. Okposo can appreciate that almost more than anyone else as one of the few Buffalo sports figures who lives in Buffalo all year round.
Think about that: neither the owners of the team, nor beloved Western New York figures like Josh Allen live in Buffalo all year round. Okposo does. He often speaks about trying to connect to the fan base, as he did at the beginning of this season when he acknowledged that the team would have a lot of work to do before winning back a disgruntled fan base.
Let's just call a spade a spade. We knew the building wouldn't be packed for opening night. But we wanted to leave an impression on the people who were there and who we knew were at home watching on TV. I know we were able to do that by the reactions of the people in the building. They were loud, electric and enthusiastic. That's the kind of hockey we want to play also. The kind that brings people out of their seats like it did on night one.
I know the opportunity we have here. I made Buffalo my full-time home three years ago. My family and I spend summers exploring the area and getting to know people around town. My kids have grown up here. This Minnesota guy can even call himself a Bills fan now.
I know how much what we do means to you. I saw it again last night. It was amazing to hear the way people reacted to the subtleties of the game.
His deep dedication to this community of hockey fans is why it’s been so incredible and rewarding to see Kyle Okposo return from the deepest depths of despair to a place of prominence on this young, emerging team. Derogatory comments were often made about his 7-year, $42m contract because of his inability to stay healthy. People wondered whether he was truly healthy enough to continue a career in the NHL after numerous repeated concussions.
Once upon a time, I was one such person who wanted the Sabres to scheme their way out of his contract due to his perceived lack of value relative to his contract value. In retrospect, it was such a myopic and short-sighted view to look at Okposo merely through the lens of production. His value to the organization extends far beyond that. He’s truly one of the good guys in the sport.
So when he does hit 20 goals this season – which I firmly believe he will – it’s important to remember that his presence on this team means far more than that arbitrary goal tally. His contribution to the organization can’t be measured in goals, assists, points and plus/minus. It’s measured in his continued commitment to see this 11-year rebuilding effort through to the finish line.
The Sabres can reward that commitment next year by putting a well-earned “C” on his chest.
Even if the team doesn’t give him the captaincy, though, Okposo will still be leading the charge to make this franchise relevant again because that’s who he is.
He's one of the good guys.
Buffalo Sabres Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»