Kyle Okposo!

[islefan31]

Anyone watch the Pit/Isles game tonight? Okposo's 1st fighting major, a decisive win and a game changer. The team was down and lifeless before the fight. I know it's not his game but it was good to see him finally man up. And it was a great comeback win after what looked to be another disaster in the making.

[bondon]

Sorry islesfan just saw this now. moved it to the GHC section and consider this a bumpity bump bump.

[mister_mcgoo]

well he was such a dud all season, it's good that he decided to show up when it matters most no?

[Carcillo]

Okposo was a stud tonight. Best player on the ice IMO.

Great sign for the Isles long-term that Okposo is stepping up his game big time when it matters the most.

[27Blue]

Okposo was great down the stretch too. Him and Bailey were the team's best wingers this season. Lots of talk late in the season that Okposo was hurt during the lockout and couldn't train - it would explain his slow start. Nice to see him getting recognition now, but he has been in beast mode for six weeks... Only difference is people are actually paying attention to the Islanders now.

[Chico Resch]

Dare I say it....Could this FINALLY be him being semi useful, and stepping up to what he was drafted for?

[ericdaoust]

Dare I say it....Could this FINALLY be him being semi useful, and stepping up to what he was drafted for?

Hard to tell. He gets full credit for what he has done of late but doing it over 82 games is another thing. Even with his strong finish he had 4 goals and 24 points in 48 games. Nothing special there.

[butch]

would be nice to see him take nutrition and offseason workouts to another level .

not many fans know he has asthma , which could explain his slow starts especially if he's not coming to camp in shape

[27Blue]

Hard to tell. He gets full credit for what he has done of late but doing it over 82 games is another thing. Even with his strong finish he had 4 goals and 24 points in 48 games. Nothing special there.

numbers don't always tell the whole story. over the final six weeks, bailey, nielsen and okposo were given the task of shutting down the others teams top line. they drove the play to the opposition's zone and outscored them. what else could you ask for? us fantasy geeks might no be as impressed, but i can guarantee you that islanders brass are thrilled with the way okposo and bailey have upped their games this year. they were the team's most important line down the stretch and probably the main reason they were able to get into the post-season. next year, the islanders should be able to ice a top six around tavares, bailey, okposo, strome, moulsen, nino or nelson. maybe they can sign a free agent better than boyes along the way. the thing is, okposo's game is not centered around points. he can do many other things to help his team win, but i think the points should come (at least more than this year).

[ericdaoust]

numbers don't always tell the whole story. over the final six weeks, bailey, nielsen and okposo were given the task of shutting down the others teams top line. they drove the play to the opposition's zone and outscored them. what else could you ask for? us fantasy geeks might no be as impressed, but i can guarantee you that islanders brass are thrilled with the way okposo and bailey have upped their games this year. they were the team's most important line down the stretch and probably the main reason they were able to get into the post-season. next year, the islanders should be able to ice a top six around tavares, bailey, okposo, strome, moulsen, nino or nelson. maybe they can sign a free agent better than boyes along the way. the thing is, okposo's game is not centered around points. he can do many other things to help his team win, but i think the points should come (at least more than this year).

That's the thing, it's six weeks. Not six months like a full NHL season.

[bondon]

The thing is I feel like every year we see Okposo do something like this. He gives us a little bit to get us going a bit over the off season and then seems to completely fizzle out come opening night.

I remember last year, he played very well for a couple of months playing alongside Moulson and Tavares and it looked like he had finally arrived...and then Boyes shot over him on the depth chart before the season even strated. Then this year he struggled at times to get more than 15 minutes of ice time.

[islefan31]

I think long term Okposo turns into to one of those better in real life type players. He will never live up to the Iginla comparisons he had before he came up. That's not to say he won't be one of those clutch (captain) types that any team would love to have. Good for him stepping up when it counts though...I love his game right now. I'm sure come fall I'll be yelling at the TV again.