OKPOSO LOOKS TO FINISH, AND STAY AN ISLANDER
Practice lines, notes and quotes; more on RJ’s dad
Chris Botta on Twitter
12:40 pm, Iceworks: Entering the third and final season of his Entry Level contract in 2010-11, Kyle Okposo hopes to stay an Islander a long, long time.
“I love it here, love the direction of the team,” Okposo said after today’s practice at Iceworks. “This is a great place to live. I think we’re building a strong team here, so I want to be a part of it.”
Considered the most complete player on the team, Okposo knows he needs to improve his ability to finish. His 16 goals are third on the team. As Scott Gordon noted, “With the opportunities he’s had, Kyle could easily have 30. What all the guys learn is, it’s not about picking corners. It’s about the release.”
The release is the one aspect of his game Okposo will focus on during his offseason in Minnesota. “I’ll be spending a lot of time on my play around the net,” he said. “I’ve really got to knuckle down on my scoring.”
Okposo has learned from watching his friend, the great Devils goal scorer Zach Parise, and his work habits. “Zach is so good, and yet he never stops working on it,” said Okposo. “He spends so much time in the offseason placing pucks all around the net and finishing. I’ll be doing a lot of that this summer. I know I can do so much better.”
The Islanders’ leading scorer graded his season through 72 games as, “All right. I think the best thing about it is that I found ways to contribute when I wasn’t producing. That 18-game goal slump was bad, but over time I think it may be a good thing for my career. I learned a lot about myself during that stretch, and I learned that if you’re not scoring there are plenty of other ways to help your team.”
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The Islanders are not expected to call up anyone from Bridgeport for the Rangers game. The lines at practice are likely to start the game. Just one forward – figure Jeff Tambellini or Trevor Gillies – has to be scratched.
Moulson – Tavares – Comeau
Sim – Nielsen – Okposo
Bergenheim - Bailey – Hunter
Gillies – Park – Jackman – Tambellini
Meyer – Hillen
Streit – Gervais
Kohn – Reese
Roloson
Notes: If a simple Mikko Koskinen update leads to pointless DiPietro rants, if a fun retrospective on the Jagr draft 20 years ago somehow leads to another tired round of comments of “Wang is evil,” there’s really no point in having a blog, you know? Guidelines are there for a reason. If they don’t work for you, that’s fine. There are hundreds of Islanders message boards and blogs to go to. Please. Thank you.
Martin Biron has been back in Buffalo awaiting the birth of his family’s fourth child. With Biron out, co-goalie coach Mike Dunham put the pads back on for a one-day comeback. “That should do it for at least another three years,” said Dunham. Biron will return to be the backup against the Rangers.
With Ryan Callahan – one of the few Rangers with skill who works his tail off every night – possibly out of the lineup, I’m making the Islanders the favorites on Wednesday night. Lundqvist vs. Roloson, of course, will be the deciding factors.
Scott Gordon spent a big portion of today’s 75-minute practice today working on game situations – some specific to Wednesday’s tilt – and blowing his whistle to make sure his troops got it right.
Gordon was delighted to hear about the selection of John Tavares as the NHL’s No. 2 Star of the week. “Every shift prior to the Olympic break, he was beating himself up,” said the coach. Gordon says he now sees a much more relaxed 19-year-old player.
While trying to give an interview after practice to Chris King, Tavares was mercilessly ribbed by teammates in his corner of the room. Said one, impersonating Tavares: “Yeah, that road trip was excellent! Did you see me in Vancouver”? Another: “Ask me who broke Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record in junior when I was 16.”
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Louis Jankowski, 78, died on March 21, 2010 peacefully at home in Clearwater, Florida. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan on June 27, 1931, Lou was a distinguished member of the hockey community after enjoying a life involved in the game he loved.
Even though he played high school football and baseball, his love of hockey began on Cootes Paradise in Hamilton, and he won a Junior B championship with Hamilton Aerovox in 1948. He continued to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association playing 3 seasons from 1948-1951. In 1950-51 he won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy for the OHA leading scorer, a trophy that still exists today.
Lou played 122 games from 1951-1955 for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League. From 1958-1969, he played for various teams in the Western Hockey League.
With the Calgary Stampeders he was named to the WHL All-Star Team 4 times (1959-1960-1961-1963) won the Leader Cup as WHL MVP (1961) and won the Fred J. Hume Cup as Most Gentlemanly Player (1963).
In 1972 Lou began his scouting career working for the St. Louis Blues, continued with NHL Central Scouting , Washington Capitals and 15 years with the New York Rangers.
One could always find Lou in a rink, from minor hockey to the NHL, he was a mainstay in the game. His passion for the game was noted by all of those he touched.
Lou was predeceased by mother Anna and brothers Alexander, Anthony, Benjamin, and John. He is survived by his wife Roseanna, brother Father Edward Jankowski, sister-in-law Marie, children Len (Rose Mary), Kathy (Ron) and Ryan (Tracy), and grandchildren Natalie, Nicole, Mark, Joshua, David, Jacob, Sophia and Krystin.
His son Ryan is the assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting of the Islanders.
Prayers and visitation Friday March 26th from 7-9pm. Funeral mass and reception Saturday March 27th 11:30am both at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church – Grimsby, Ontario. A memorial lunch will be held in Calgary, Alberta on April 30th.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kidsport Alberta in memory of Lou Jankowski at www.kidsportcanada.ca
53 Responses to OKPOSO LOOKS TO FINISH, AND STAY AN ISLANDER
Practice lines, notes and quotes; more on RJ’s dad
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Ethan K says:
I noticed that Okposo is very hit or miss with the shots. Sometimes he’ll miss completely, sometimes he’ll drill one in off the post. Never really saw him as the goal scorer though, more of the power forward. If he could be a 25+ goal scorer that would be great in my book. The one who really needs to practice shooting is Tavares. The kid has to learn to get a puck past a goalie.
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Staten Islander says:
PLEASE lock up KO for the next 5 years, PLEASE!
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DOM-O says:
KO needs sign a big deal, get the C on his sweater and then the Islanders can take the next giant step towards a playoff spot next season.
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Mark P says:
I see Bailey is listed at center again…..His play was better at the wing….should he not continue at the Wing for the remainder of the season to develop is game?
I would like to see us with a clear direction going into the offseason…..Isles need alot…..but 1 top 6 via free agency should occur…Winger or Center? -
Rich says:
We absolutely need to make a bold statement about the teams commitment to win and sign Okposo to a long term deal. Not dragging it out and making it a struggle would be ideal.
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AJAX says:
Lock KO up!
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Eric Cup says:
Great to hear KO on board with the current plan. He even sounds sincere. As a long time fan who was in the building when cups were won, I am on board as well and I am really enjoying watching these kids grow and improve. Kyle is a keeper and a possible future captain. I’m sure he will be signed for many more years.
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TuxTax says:
Kyle will be handsomely rewarded as part of the new Core of the Islanders. As well as JT and Bails when their time comes.
If DP comes back 100% healthy, then gravy, otherwise it doesnt matter. Roly has been outstanding. And there are plenty of goaltending prospects. I’m not worried, I will worry if the team brings DP back at 65% again and he is costing his team wins. Until that day comes i am not worried about it.
My condolences to the Jankowski Family.
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NYIchamp39 says:
6 years 15.5 million for Okposo
year 1 – 1.5 million
year 2 – 2 million
year 3 – 2 million
year 4 – 2.5 million
year 5 – 3.5 million
year 6 – 4 millionI (and Kyle) would be very happy with a deal like this.
PS. good to see that the guys and John have a good sense of humor. Seems like he is becoming one of the guys. Nice to see them become friends and mesh well.
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Irish Isle says:
CB, if you were Garth, do you sign KO before the season, or do you chance him becoming a RFA?
Also I am glad that KO enjoys Island life.
Plus I think he’s happy we rescued him from MU who seem to be in a downward spiral.
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EAF says:
what else he suppose to say : “I hate it here, can’t wait to get out”
C’mon, they all say the right things, as long as the guy is a member of the team he will say that he loves it here. -
RIP Louis Jankowski. Nice post.
You’re kidding about Dunham, right? If not, here’s the chance to sign a sumo wrestler.
Let’s hope something works out for Kyle.
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I’d like to see KO pot 30, but even if he can make it to 20 this season, that would be huge. I love watching KO play the game.
Congrats to Marty B. I know he won’t be an Islander next season, but I really like him as a player (despite his ups and downs this season).
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The players ribbing Tavares was pretty funny. It’d be nice to see the team at least pick up a win against the Rangers. Oh, and congrats Marty!!!!
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#18, Right on! No way he is doing 15.5, with EDM, TOR, NYR etc who overpay, he needs a healthy fair deal. I would like to see the Isles put the DP secrecy to bed. Just be honest with the base and the chips fall wherever they may.
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
finally, i hope this puts to rest the other tiring drill of everyone thinking that every hockey player wants to go back home to his home city to play his career.
Kyle will not want to go minn. Tavares will not leave and go to Tor. Both want to win a cup.
Just like Crosby, Broduer or anyone else didnt want to go back home.
KO will not sign for as little as 1.5MM a year. Its more like 3MM+ a year.
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8 years – 40 mil? You’re kidding right? If not, that’s just a little steep for a player with 2 full years who’s never sniffed 30 goals. He’ll get his money but not that much right now.
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I agree with 18….5 years 17.5 (3.5) is about right…..He already has the A and Islanders Market him pretty heavily.
If he were to sign a 1 year and hit his 30 goal 60 point projection….he could get 4.5.
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Lorne says:
Maybe do an incentive laden contract for 5 years. For example If KO hits 30 goals, he gets a 2 million dollar bonus.
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goteamgo says:
only rookie contracts and near 38-40 yr old players can get bonus clauses in their contracts.. i tihnk it applies to injured players as well, but not sure on that..
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Okposo will be just fine. I think once he snaps and has more of that killer instinct, the beast will be fully out!
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Strummer's Army says:
Nice tip of the hat to Big Lou CB. I’m sure Ryan appreciates it.
Okposo needs to be locked up and I’m sure it will get done.
I hope it is no debate to Isles management who to dress tomorrow night and who not to. You dress Gillies. I’ve given up on Tambs now. I haven’t looked at the Rangers roster in a looooong time but I know they picked up Shelly, Avery enjoys diving on Isles goalies and needs to be taught not to do that, Dubinsky will throw, and they have that 6’7 center, so yes you dress Gillies and if you are real smart you call up Martin.
Botta is there any word on who the good college UFA’s are this year?
Also, when should we see the Isles signing Hamonic, Poulin, Neimi, Rhashanski, Ness etc?
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Diane says:
- I guess when Jeff T looks back at this season someday he will think of it as the year of the scratch (ing). Sorry Tambs, it just hasn’t worked out. Best of luck to you in the future.
- Congrats to Marty on the birth of his 4th child. FYI I read something recently about a kid these days costs something like $263,000 – and my experience tells me that’s about right. Wish I would’ve known that before, I would’ve done a couple of things differently. But I digress.
- Rest in peace fellow Cancerian Louis Jankowski. Glad to see it seems like he enjoyed his life.
- Tavares is a lot of fun to watch. I’ve seen him mumble to himself a lot, mostly in frustration after a play that broke down. I think its funny and I find it very endearing. Still takes it pretty hard but I have no problem with that.
- Great to hear Kyle believing they’re building a strong team and wanting very much to be a big part of it. All I can say is ME TOO!! ME TOO!! I have no doubt he’ll be practicing hard like he says he will.
- Love that these young guys are coming along like they are.I’m wearing my glasses today hehe.
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IslesNation says:
Just got my KO jersey the other day… Was starting to get embarrassed wearing #39 around everywhere. Would love to see him locked up long term, 8 y 40 mil seems about right.
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thepolishprince says:
I didn’t want Okposo picked over Mueller originally. Now that I’ve seen the kid play and mature I can’t imagine him not being a part of this team. I hope they lock him up to a fair deal for both sides.
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bob l says:
we’re a massive 0 for 2 in long term deals… lets please keep things to a maximum of 5 years… pretty please garth!
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Hockey1919 says:
Would love to see Okposo start cashing in on the opportunities he generates. Maybe making the move to the net a few feet sooner to give himself a little more space to jam it in then trying to beat the d clean on the outside with his signature move would help. He’s mature enough now that he should be able to pressure the d and at least draw 2 with his strength.
That and stop trying to thread the shot, which is causing him to miss the net on a lot of opportunities. It’s all a question of him trying to be a little too perfect in his execution intead of hammering it away and playing the percentages.
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SCLI says:
KO is a key piece to the Isles future. A terrific player with character who’s still learning his craft. Sign him, hand him the “C” next year and watch his career blossom. But please no more 15 year contracts.
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Hey Noooowww!!!! says:
All I have to say is if Kyle isnt resigned It will seriously test my patience to the brink….He wants to be here so give him a nice 5 year contract, please!?!?!?!
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jim says:
25 years 178 mil….oh wait never mind, been there done that….
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GE of GN says:
KO gets himself in position to rack up points for sure. If he wants some tips on that ‘quick release’, he need look no further than his teammate Matt Moulson. #26 has no wasted motion in wrist shot, which is a big part of his success. KO, on the other hand, seems to take that extra millisecond to set up his shot.
Tavares is looking better and better every game. Noticing that he’s not getting knocked off the puck and ending on his a&& as much anymore. Much stronger on the puck of late.
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(Sim)ple says:
He will be signed to a long term deal. I am not worried. I don’t see a team willing to part with a similar package for KO that Toronto forked over for Kessel this year. Only worry is once Kyle reaches UFA status. But by then, who knows where this team will be playing their home games?
Thanks CB for reposting the guidelines. I think a lot of times readers get really passionate about some of the things that get posted and lose sight of the crux of the article. I like to read all comments but it gets real trying after someone complains about the low payroll in an article about how Jack Hillen was scouted.
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I have never seen gillies stick up for his team mates. Get Martin up for the rag game, and have him slam Avery in 3D.That and an Isles win , and I consider it a next step season. Next year the playoffs are MUST!!!!
LETS GO ISLANDERS—-help me silence the obnoxious Ragie fans, pleeeese!! -
I think that having players like Okposo, Weight, and others be so positive about the club and it’s direction is such and encouraging sign. For me this is a bigger issue for the long term even than the progress of some of the prospects etc. It suggests that the team is moving in a positive direction which means that the results will eventually follow.
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Joe says:
Gillies should be in, Rags have Prust and Shelley.
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felix says:
I have said it once before and again, if you think any player will say something other than “I love living here and playing here” when asked the question of if he wants to stay … you are delusional.
yes it is our islanders and we want to hear it and therefore since it is said it must be true, wight, tavares, okposo, anyone … it is nice they say it but people really do you believe them.
do you really expect okposo to say as an upcoming unrestricted free agent that he hates it here or is looking to move on.
this is like when a ufa takes more money to go somewhere else and then says it is not about the money. or when a player ad nauseum says this is whre i want to be, but then picks up and leaves over an extra 500k.
please these people say what they need to. we all want to believe okposo is telling the truth but he is saying what he needs to say.
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I frickin LOVE Kyle. I could not even entertain the thought of this team without him. He loves it and wants to stay here, and I dont think there is an Islanders fan in the world who isnt thrilled to hear that! Fortunately, Garth and Charles seem just as high on Kyle as the rest of us!
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msolo says:
for #13
HE DIDNT HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING
he couldve kept his mouth shut and said see ya later
kid has loyalty and you cant see it -
players and loyalty … that is every player who is a UFA saying they want to be there and then leaving for a tad bit more money or not really negotiating.
kovalchuk, who said he wants to be in atlanta and stay a thrasher, when he turned down the 80 million deal or 11 mil per season, that was loyalty becasue he said he wanted to stay there.
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Jim Clark says: An Islander first round pick who is actually a good player. You don’t see that every year.
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Gary says:
how about locking up Moulsen for a few years too
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Dylan says:
how about spelling moulson first correctly
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Johnnyjet says:
Great story on KO! Please no more tracking the fall for Hall and Seguin. We want our younger players to learn how to win. We are going to get a very good prospect with whatever pick. People liked Mueller over Okposo. I think we would rather have the latter. Examples of this are in every draft so cheer on your isles if you are true fan. I am with Jaffe, screw the pick and surround these players with productive players.
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Eric says:
Felix, Kyle is not an unrestricted FA and won’t be for some time.
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Brian says:
you can tell Kyle is a good kid and comes from a good family.
keep up the good work and I hope to watch you in an islander uniform for a long time as you help bring the cup home to LI.
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John T - Halifax, NS says:
As long as the Islanders give KO a qualifying offer as an RFA they would retain the rights to him even if he didnt sign with them. I wouldnt be too worried.
I would be very surprised if they didnt give a qualifying offer to him and I would find that hard to believe if they didnt. To me, KO is a main cog of this Islanders team in the future. At this time, Im not worried about him signing.
I dont care if its long or short term, but signing KO is a priority this offseason.
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50 in 50 says:
15 years @ 67.5 million or how bout 10 years @ 87.5 million. Oh wait been there done that, lets just set a new record 18 years @ 71 million.
KO is good, lock him up for another 3 years 5.5 million a year. Remember he is one concussion away from calling it a career…
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Kyle “Thunderstorm” Okposo is my favorite Islander, I have a KO jersey that I’ll be sporting at MSG tomorrow night.
Keep him hungry, sign him to a one year deal at fair market value and see what he does with this off season as far as improving his finishing.
Sure, we may be on the hook for locking up a 35 goal scorer, but I’d rather he is paid fairly and continues to play well. Instead of going Yashin like.
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the real JD says:
Not only is KO a stud on the ice the kid is all class off the ice.
Captain KO!
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Bobby BanTon says:
I think next year is gonna be great. KO and JT will Shine. RIP Mr. Jankowski.
Great news from KO. He is a class act.