Every day until June 30, we’ll write about a pending unrestricted free agent. Today’s UFA of the Day is…
Kyle Okposo
He’s only 28 and he scored 22 goals with 42 assists last season. That’s going to mean a big payday, but it won’t be with the Islanders.
A league source told Newsday that Okposo is “100 percent gone” from the club that drafted him a decade ago. The Isles will miss him. Only John Tavares had more points (70) for them last season.
Okposo is from St. Paul and he played college hockey for the Gophers, so obviously Minnesota has been named as a possible destination.
Contributing to that speculation, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has said that adding more goal-scoring is a priority this offseason.
“There’s so much talent in this league. There’s not a lot separating most of us, and I think if we could find a way to score goals a little more easily that would certainly help our cause,” Fletcher said, per the Star Tribune.
To clear cap space, the Wild could buy out Thomas Vanek’s contract.
If not Minnesota for Okposo, the Bruins could be interested, especially if they don’t re-sign Loui Eriksson, which is looking doubtful.
The Canucks could also be suitors. They’re going to do their best to add a top-six winger, be it Milan Lucic, Eriksson, or whoever can help them put the puck in the net.
Click here for all our 2016 UFA profiles.