PB Q & A: KYLE OKPOSO: On Team USA, his focus on the NYI, new home in Minny and new place on LI
12:45 am - Point Blank spoke with Islanders forward Kyle Okposo on Monday night.
Are you in New York yet?
Nope. Home watching the U.S. Open tennis at home. I’ll be there on Thursday.
You’re at your folks’ house?
I bought my own place in Minnesota. Moved in early this summer.
Tell us about it.
Nice, modest. Not far from the city (Minneapolis), not too close. It’s got everything I need.
When do you start skating at Iceworks?
I don’t get in on Thursday ’til after they’re done, so I’ll start with the group on Friday. I hear a lot of guys are rolling in. Really looking forward to getting started.
Not that hockey players let themselves get out of shape in the offseason anymore, but with the Team USA orientation camp you really couldn’t let yourself take a break at all.
I’ve been skating for about five weeks now. You’re right - I had to be ready for the USA camp. I think the whole offseason should have me extra prepared for Islanders training camp and our season.
What was the best part of the Team USA experience?
Just the privilege of being part of it, getting to know everyone. The talent there was incredible. Better than that, all the players were really good to me. The whole thing was something I’ll be able to learn from and take with me for a long time.
Where does it go from here? It’s not like World Juniors, where there’s another tryout camp. When do you find out if you made it?
We just go back to our teams and play the best we can for our teams. I’ll find out like everyone else in late December.
How do you manage to keep your focus on the Islanders and not think about making or not making the Olympic team?
That’s easy, to be honest with you. Everyone is going to be judged on their play within the concept of the NHL teams they play for. If I’m not playing well, if I’m not doing everything I can within the Islanders’ system, I won’t make it. Easy as that. I have to get off to a good start - not to make the Olympic team, but for the better of my team.
What’s the next step for you in your NHL development?
The same issue, it’s about starting well. I didn’t last year, and that was frustrating. So for me the next step as an NHL player is figuring out how to get out of the gate a lot quicker than I did last season.
What did you learn about your slow start from last year?
That I can’t do that again! I’ll be ready. Besides the USA camp, I’ve been working out and scrimmaging with a lot of NHL players from my area. It’s a very good situation for me, getting that experience with this group from Minnesota. Conditioning and being hockey-ready won’t be a problem. I just have to learn from my mistakes of last season.
Who are some of the players we might know that you’ve been skating with?
Jon Toews, Jordan Schroeder, Zach Parise, Drew Stafford.
Have you met yet with John Tavares?
I spoke to him for a little while after he was drafted, just to congratulate him and let him know I’m there if he needs anything. Great player. Can’t wait to get to know him better and be his teammate.
How much time have you spent on Long Island this summer?
I’ve been in a few times - once for a week of appearances for the team and also a few visits for personal stuff and to see friends. Long Island in the summer…nice spot.
Favorite area?
You can’t go wrong with Huntington at night. Great town to get dinner and hang out with friends.
Were you able to go on any vacations?
That didn’t work out the way I planned. I went to Las Vegas for a few days for the Players Association meetings. I thought when the summer started that I would get away, but life got busy and the offseason went fast. That’s okay. I’m really excited for our season and I’m ready to start playing hockey again.
I’ve heard the old Delta House living arrangement on the Island with you and Gervais and Bailey and Jackman and the rest was being broken up.
Yep. I have my own place now, not far from Iceworks or the Coliseum.
I think it was Jackman who told me that you guys were the closest of pals, but it would be more ideal for you to live near each other - just not in the same house.
You got it. That is what we’ve done.
Comments.
31 Responses to “PB Q & A: KYLE OKPOSO: On Team USA, his focus on the NYI, new home in Minny and new place on LI”
Please Wait
One of the best players the Islanders have had in years. If he stays focused and work hard he’ll be held in the highest of esteem for decades to come.
Sign Matt Martin and fix the defense and toughness issues SNOW!
He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. This is definitely the interview with a future captain!
Captain Material in the making… He really picked up the offense towards the end but also his defense game became much more solid. I liked that Gordon put him in many different positions from the PK to the PP. He seems to like that mid slot area for a one-timer but you’ve got to say that he looked better than a majority of our defensemen looked at the point on the PP.
Hopefully, this is Kyle’s season to break out and by break out I mean 25-30 goals. I think he can hit that mark if he stays healthy and exceed it in a few years as the talent around him grows.
CB, Was the Okposo pick Smith’s or Feltrin’s? People give kudos to Smith as he was the GM, but in interviews after the pick Smith said it was Feltrin & Co’s selection. Can you please clear this up?
What difference does it make who drafted him ? The thing that matters is he is a Islander & a damn good one-Period!
Some people need to stop rehashing the past every 5 minutes & move on already
It’d be crazy to go out to a place like Finley’s in Huntington on a Saturday night and bump into Kyle Okposo!
Oh, no….the staff at Kitchen Kabaret won’t be seeing Kyle as much! They will be crushed.
I dnt like the idea KO bought a home in Minnesota.
Im just saying-maybe his heart is in Minnesota come FA time.
With that said-I truly enjoy watching this young man play and believe he is a future star of the league.
#8, many athletes have homes in more than one place. i have no doubt that Okposo will be here for a long time.
You have no doubt?! What you know KO?
Youre right- but Im just saying home is where the heart is…its obvious KO loves Minnesota.
Hey Kyle, are you gonna put up some good fantasy #’s for me this year? You’re still a steal and a “unknown” in this backward town I live in. I’m thinking you’re ready and primed for around 30-35 goals and over 60 Points! Get em buddy!
It may be early, but have they started work on getting him an extension yet? I’d hate to see him leave
to post 8…ovechkin lives in russia during the offseason…marty st louis lives in greenwich connecticut…i don’t think he’s leaving the bolts for the sound tigers
Glad to hear he’s ready for the season, and nice shout-out for Huntington!
Thanks for the great post CB. We did not have the summer we are accustomed to, but I am getting excited for the new season!
Is it me or does he sounds a little robotic?
I was so desperate for the start of the season, I watched a rerun of Isles vs Blackhawks last night. KO was knocking Hawks’ players off the puck at will. He is going to be tremendous this season.
Kyles gonna open a lot more eyes this year then he did last year. Last nights re-run really got me primed for the season, I am ready to go…I dont care what happens this season just as long as there is hockey to watch.
I think the natives are happy to get away from Minnisota for the Winter…..and look what happened to Parrish when he went home.
Once Kyle signs the big contract he can get a place in the Hamptons and stay here year round.
Until KO will grow older and have a family he is going to be a one proud Islander. In his age the words Frendship, Team, and Hockey are worth a lot. He is here for the game of hockey and this is his primary target. He doesn’t call himself a Star (like Zherdev did (as much as I ashamed to make this example - Zherdev is from my hometown)). So far KO does everything right including the development of his game. And I know it will be joy watching him play this season.
KO!!!! quickly became my favorite Islander. Now he will be JT’s right wing. Captain KO!!!!!
Great interview as usual. Big year for Kyle, I am sure he will perform well. Hopefully he will be around 55+ points this year.
Good piece CB. There is a typo in the 8th question you asked. everything is misspelled. Thought I’d let you know. great stuff
#17 - Let him sound robotic. To me, this guy could be the Isles’ Jeter. Jeter hasn’t made a controversial statement in 14 years. Every team needs one, leadership + talent, and KO could be that guy.
So I’d much prefer strong, smart guys like KO and Bailey over head cases who, no matter the talent, will screw it up for themselves and the team.
And to those who worry about him leaving for the Wild…calm the hell down. We have his RFA rights for years. Relax. We have far bigger concerns. Hell, if we’re going to go down that road, we can worry about Tavares running to the Leafs in a decade.
Thanks Botta!
uh, don’t know if just my low def screen, but you cannot get a truer blue & orange than that pic of Kyle.
uh II, Smith was GM for 20 minutes so most scouting related activities must got to scouts. that said the free agents and rates they wer signed at are all his. I like Neil, he trained under the best - unlike Dilbury.
The last thing I wish for is a rushed summer. But…once Labor Day is over I’m praying for sept to fly by.
I have my opening day tickets and am looking more forward to a season of hockey this year than I have for the last 25+. Don’t care where we finish just want to see our boys play hard every night and mature.
Next year will be the true test. This year we can sit back and enjoy watching the core grow.
KO rules! 60+ Pts!
I have one question through all of this , who is going to put the puck in the net for the N.Y.I. ?
I was at Iceworks yesterday about 11 AM, and saw some of the Islanders skating. Hunter was on the ice. DP was skating laps in a warmup suit. Martinek was there but not on the ice.