After signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Wednesday, franchise captain Kyle Okposo will continue to lead the young, retooled Buffalo Sabres.
After completing a seven-year, $42 million contract, Okposo became an unrestricted free agent and gets to captain a squad that is finally competitive.
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Despite extending an NHL-worst playoff streak to a 12th season, the Sabres ended with 42 victories and 91 points, their most since 2011.
Okposo was praised for leading the NHL's youngest club. He became captain this season after serving as an alternate in 2021-22 after Buffalo stripped Jack Eichel of the captaincy before moving him to Vegas.
Okposo chose to stay in Buffalo despite the Sabres' losing record because of young stars like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Owen Power.
In 75 games as a checking line player, Okposo scored 11 goals and 28 points. He recorded 21 goals and 45 points in Buffalo two years ago, his fourth 20-goal season.
Okposo suffered four concussions from 2017 to 2019. He spent nearly a week at Buffalo General Hospital's Neuro Surgical ICU after losing weight and having trouble sleeping after a routine hit in practice.