I don't think any of you will agree with me but during most games after okposo came back, i forgot he was even on the ice. I think it was the grabner nielsen combo that made me forget about him....
I don't think any of you will agree with me but during most games after okposo came back, i forgot he was even on the ice. I think it was the grabner nielsen combo that made me forget about him....
Thoughts?
Completely disagree. I saw Okposo making the responsible play, creating free ice down-low, creating odd-man rushes from turnovers, and generally complimenting that line completely. The line became far more successful perpetuating the cycle as well as working in transition. If he gets his finish down, he adds a right handed trailer option on odd-man rushes.
I thought Okposo's play improved as he was able to relax a bit on that line. He was "less noticable" in the respect that he wasn't trying to do too much and turning the puck over, thereby being able to focus on causing turnovers instead, which is his real talent.
I don't think any of you will agree with me but during most games after okposo came back, i forgot he was even on the ice. I think it was the grabner nielsen combo that made me forget about him....
Thoughts?
It takes 3 to make a line. It's no coincidence that not only did the Isles start playing better when he came back, but that Nielsen and Grabs both improved with him on their line.
I agree with one thing, KO was pretty rusty offensively in his return. But this is to be expected from a player who separated a shoulder.
It's not a coincidence that the team was vastly improved after Okposo came back.
Ding, Ding, ding, we have a winner.
Ox makes people around him better, and he definitely helped Grabner out a whole lot. If you watched this team the whole season this was pretty easy to notice.
Completely disagree. I saw Okposo making the responsible play, creating free ice down-low, creating odd-man rushes from turnovers, and generally complimenting that line completely. The line became far more successful perpetuating the cycle as well as working in transition. If he gets his finish down, he adds a right handed trailer option on odd-man rushes.
I thought Okposo's play improved as he was able to relax a bit on that line. He was "less noticable" in the respect that he wasn't trying to do too much and turning the puck over, thereby being able to focus on causing turnovers instead, which is his real talent.
Cheers,
Dan-o
Yep that was his only strife, his finish, once he gets that he's going to put nice numbers! Okposo = The Man!!!
A couple things.
1) Okposo was coming off of missing how much of the season with the injury?
2) Kyle is easily one of the best young TWO WAY forwards in the NHL.
3) A lot of opps and chances were created by Okposo on that line. I mean was it just a sudden switch that turned on for Grabs or did it have to do with the kid knowing he can leave the defensive zone a little earlier?
That's the value of Kyle Okposo, even when he's not producing he's doing the unnoticeable things that help teams win games. For example, his ability to breakup plays in the defensive/neutral zone spearheaded the Nielsen-Grabner attack.
i still can't shake the visions of KO from his rookie year all over the ice. all i could think of was a young marian hossa. demon on the puck playing PK/PP/ES and just forced the other team to react.
plus you are talking about a guy that scored goals at a .5 gpg pace before the NHL.
i have to think focusing on defense and injuries hurt his finish and timing and that when he gets that back he is going to be a complete beast on the ice.
i still can't shake the visions of KO from his rookie year all over the ice. all i could think of was a young marian hossa. demon on the puck playing PK/PP/ES and just forced the other team to react.
plus you are talking about a guy that scored goals at a .5 gpg pace before the NHL.
i have to think focusing on defense and injuries hurt his finish and timing and that when he gets that back he is going to be a complete beast on the ice.
any team would kill to have this kid, imho
this is the exact player i see okposo becoming. He plays such a similar game as Hossa, the only difference is that Okposo has a harder, but less accurate shot.
Last edited by WangMustGo: 07-08-2011 at 07:01 PM.
I think Okposo will turn out to be a good 2nd line player. I just don't see him becoming a 1st liner. However, that's not a knock on the guy-there's nothing wrong with being a good, solid, reliable 2nd liner.
I think Okposo will turn out to be a good 2nd line player. I just don't see him becoming a 1st liner. However, that's not a knock on the guy-there's nothing wrong with being a good, solid, reliable 2nd liner.
Absolutely not. As long as that line performs as well as they did last season, I don't care what you call them. I still think Okposo has the 2nd highest upside on this team though, behind Tavares. His only negative is his finishing ability, which granted may never turn around, but if it does he will become an elite player.
Absolutely not. As long as that line performs as well as they did last season, I don't care what you call them. I still think Okposo has the 2nd highest upside on this team though, behind Tavares. His only negative is his finishing ability, which granted may never turn around, but if it does he will become an elite player.
Agree with this, Okposo's an integral part of this team and he does everything well. Players like him are very rare, even without the big offensive numbers.
There are a lot of players on the team that would have much BETTER numbers if they weren't mis-cast in their roles. Numbers don't tell the whole story with that guy.
I was very disappointed with his offensive output last year, even though I expected low numbers based solely on the shoulder injury and missed time - but I was not disappointed with his overall game. He remains a key player on this team and I really think he'll continue to get better, much better.
Don´t have any problem with Okposo´s points last season, i really thought he was throwing his body everywhere and played very good. The points will come. Futute captain anyone?
Don´t have any problem with Okposo´s points last season, i really thought he was throwing his body everywhere and played very good. The points will come. Futute captain anyone?
As of now I'd say he is the front-runner. For now though I'd either give it to Streit, go the no-captain route with just a few "A"s, or have the players vote on who they feel should be captain. But I agree, Okposo will probably wear the "C" at some point in the future.
I think Okposo will turn out to be a good 2nd line player. I just don't see him becoming a 1st liner. However, that's not a knock on the guy-there's nothing wrong with being a good, solid, reliable 2nd liner.
Meh. If we have learned anything last year, being on any line doesn't matter much, it's based on chemistry. Kunitz would be a prototypical 2nd liner if your making a team but fits perfectly on the 1st line due to chemistry, making him a first liner. Tavares has that same relationship with Moulson.
Okposo will put up a lot of points on the second line with Grabner and Nielsen and on the first unit powerplay.
Okposo will put up a lot of points on the second line with Grabner and Nielsen and on the first unit powerplay.
I know it's been said 100 time atleast around these boards but I really really really cannot wait to see this line together for a whole season. I'm just hoping Grabner some how overcome his habit of starting the season off slowly.
Okposo isn't noticeable if you aren't trying to see the things he does away from the puck.
A fan with a great eye for the game will tell you he is one of the most noticeable players on the ice; and, as a person who watches games very analytically, I'll attest to that. He's one of the most effective Islander players, and he will be one of the most effective players overall in a a few seasons. Again; "noticeable", doesn't necessarily mean "effective". Brett Lebda is "noticeable", that's for certain.
I know it's been said 100 time atleast around these boards but I really really really cannot wait to see this line together for a whole season. I'm just hoping Grabner some how overcome his habit of starting the season off slowly.
I'm so pumped to see them, I can't wait too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Boyle
Okposo isn't noticeable if you aren't trying to see the things he does away from the puck.
A fan with a great eye for the game will tell you he is one of the most noticeable players on the ice; and, as a person who watches games very analytically, I'll attest to that. He's one of the most effective Islander players, and he will be one of the most effective players overall in a a few seasons. Again; "noticeable", doesn't necessarily mean "effective". Brett Lebda is "noticeable", that's for certain.
His board work is a great example. Another is how well he breaks up defensive plays. For forwards, I'd put only Nielsen and Tavares in his category for most effective.
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