Total Season Stats: 52 GP | 9 G | 10 A | 19 PTS
Age: 32
Contract Status: Signed through 2022-23 season
This season marked the fourth year of Kyle Okposo’s seven-year deal, which was signed before the 2016-17 NHL season.
Okposo’s contract continues to be a thorn in the side of the Sabres organization. Despite the solid play that might not always show up on the score sheet, Okposo counted six million against the cap.
It goes without saying but when a player counts for six million against the cap, you expect to get more than nine goals in 52 games.
To dig in a little further, this season also marked the third straight season in which the Buffalo Sabres saw decreased point production from Okposo.
This season did return a recent favorite – the LOG Line.
As the “O” part of the aforementioned LOG Line, Kyle Okposo played alongside Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson to create one of the better shutdown lines throughout the entire NHL.
At the end of the day for Okposo, the song remains the same. The Buffalo Sabres find themselves paying a big ticket for a player who will likely produce at a bottom-six clip for the remaining three seasons of his deal.
The discussion with Okposo has been the same as well – Buffalo will struggle to swallow the cap hit for Okposo with the lack of production they will get in return. If Buffalo was able to pay Okposo at a bottom six rate, he would be a highly valued player in this team’s lineup.
If Buffalo finds themselves hamstrung with the recent news of a potential flat cap heading into the 2020-21 NHL season, one has to wonder what happens with Okposo.
For now, Okposo’s consistent veteran presence in the bottom six continues to be a small blessing for the Sabres.
Season Grade: C-