Kyle Okposo Q n A with @cultureoflosing of @LHHockey

 

With the acquisition via FA of Kyle Okposo from the New York Islanders to the Sabres, I wanted to get a local person’s view of the player coming in. I am beyond grateful that Dan Saraceni of Light House Hockey, the co-editor of SB Nation’s Isles blog took the time to answer the questions we as a staff had about Kyle. If you want more great coverage of the Islanders – check em out. They are good people and from the articles I link below you’ll see how in depth their coverage is.

On to the interview!

1. After reading your awesome piece on Kyle, you cite the Pittsburgh Fight as his coming out party. What can you tell Sabres fans of the Kyle prior to the fight and the Kyle after?

The difference in the two was mainly one of consistency. Before that fight (and really that playoff series), Kyle would show signs of great skill, then go through long quiet periods. He wasn’t the only Islander to do that, but when you’re drafted in 2006 and it’s 2013 and you haven’t really put it together yet, fans get nervous. His numbers were just okay. Not nearly what you want from a “core” player. After the series, Kyle was one of the Islanders best forwards night-in, night-out and easily their second best offensive option behind John Tavares. Kyle says he saw a sports psychologist and it helped him and we’ve joked that the Islanders should send a few other players to that doctor.

And if any stats totally blow my theories out of the water, I’m sorry. I’m not looking at them right now.

2. What was Kyle’s level of interaction with the fans, either via the team or on his social media?

Kyle is a great guy, always smiling and open with fans. He extremely approachable and friendly. He’s not much of a Twitter user, but has been known to go back-and-forth with teammates.

3. What are Kyle’s strengths and weaknesses?

He’s good along the boards and in the corners. He’s got a good, hard shot and is a real power play weapon. Defensively, frankly, he’s a mess. The biggest problem when he and Tavares play together is that neither one is all that good in their own end and they need someone who is. In fairness, Tavares has gotten a tiny bit better over the years. Effort isn’t Kyle’s problem, so I’m not sure why it never clicked for him. Maybe Bylsma can figure something out.

4. Looking on the Lighthouse site, some of the fans mentioned that Kyle wasn’t a first liner. Do you share that opinion?

No. In terms of offensive output, Kyle is absolutely a first line player. He’s in-line with other first liners throughout the league. Defensively, again, he’s a liability, and that’s a big knock in some people’s eyes. Not everyone is Bryan Trottier. And that’s okay.

5. Other than the shoulder, were there any big injury concerns of note?

He had that scary eye injury in 2015 in which he had a detached cornea. He came back about a month later, took some time get his rhythm back and has been fine ever since. That shoulder injury was a one-off back in 2010. Shouldn’t be an issue as far as I know.

6. Is Kyle Matt Moulson ver. 2? As Sabres fans, the situation seems eerily familiar….

I’m gonna say no, but I want you to know that I loved Matt Moulson to death and still do. (http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/10/27/5036582/no-pizza-for-spicoli-goodbye-to-matt-moulson-thomas-vanek-trade-buffalo-sabres)

Moulson and Tavares had “chemistry” in the sense that they knew how to play with each other. Moulson knew where to go and Tavares knew how to find him over and over again. And Moulson knew where Tavares would be right behind him. You can credit Tavares with propping up Moulson but it takes two to make that tandem work and Moulson should get his due.

In Okposo’s case, he and Tavares never really had that kind of chemistry. At least, not that I could see. They’re both very good players and played well together, obviously. But it didn’t always seem like they clicked with each other the way Moulson and Tavares did.

In other words, the prospects of Okposo being just fine away from Tavares are very good. With Moulson, sadly, the fears that he needed Tavares seem to have become true.

7. Is there any other games that stand out as KO “must watch” games?

Game 2, 2013 playoffs vs. Pittsburgh for sure. His four goal game against the Penguins in 2015. His overtime winner against the Blackhawks in Janury of 2014 is great, too. Especially since it happened on the day he was snubbed by Team USA for the Olympics. Watch the video to hear Islanders fans chanting “USA!” during his post-game interview.

8. Is there anything else we missed on Kyle? What’s your snapshot image of him as an Islander if you have one?

My lasting memory of him will be as a good dude who grew up as an Islander I was proud to root for. I wish he could have stayed. Seems like the brass wanted to go in a different direction and I hope they’re right about it. But I hope Kyle continues to produce and has a long, successful career, too.