Kyle Okposo? Gone
Posted on December 19th, 2007 – 4:32 PMBy Michael Rand
From the U of M release, with Don Lucia’s rather terse statement in bold:
University of Minnesota sophomore Kyle Okposo has chosen to forgo the remainder of the 2007-08 season and his career with the Golden Gophers to sign a contract with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Okposo was the Islanders’ first-round draft choice and the seventh player taken overall in the 2006 entry draft. He is the eighth Minnesota player to leave college early for the professional ranks since the end of the 2005-06 season. Okposo is departing today for the Czech Republic as a member of the United States’ under-20 national team that is competing at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships and will join the Islanders following the tournament. “While I’m disappointed Kyle is leaving at this point of the season, his dream has been to play pro hockey,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. ” It is unfortunate that the Islanders put him in a very difficult position. I think our team has made strides the last few weeks and I’ m looking forward to the second half of the season.”
Start making other plans for late March, Gophers hockey fans. Jon, try to hold back the tears.
17 Responses to "Kyle Okposo? Gone"
Jon: I’m not the type of guy who hugs another guy twice in one week (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but if you need me, brother, let me know.
Oh, and: hoc-key?
What a disappointment. This comes as a big surprise to me as Okposo hasn’t been having his best season yet this year fundamentally. His puck handling and passing both have been very suspect so far this year, and I highly doubt he will be ready for the NHL in some time. I wonder if this was a result of pressure from the Islanders to sign or if it’s something like strained relations with the Gopher team or the potential of being academically ineligible next semester. Any thoughts?
Oh, and I bet Gopher Gold is just thrilled that you stole their blog since Randball is actually viewed by people and doesn’t collect dust like they do…
Randball is actually viewed by people
Proprietor, I’m smelling a new tagline for those long-awaited T-shirts.
Snark aside, 2010 asks some good questions. Wha’ happen?
2010: Not being plugged into the situation, I’d hate to speculate too much. That said, if you read anything into the Lucia quote about “it is unfortunate that the Islanders put him in a very difficult position,” it seems that he at least felt there was undue muscle flexed by the NHL club.
That seems true. I wonder if the whole Chris Simon situation is lending itself to needing forwards in their system - if I knew anything about the Islanders at all, I might question the stats of some of their guys in the AHL, but for all I know, they could all be Wayne Gretzky too.(OK, I exaggerated a bit.)
Methinks Okposo really never understood the rules of Simon says.
Ewing Theory potential?
Ah, who am I kidding. The Gophers are down to about five forwards, and at this point, have to be wondering if Dom Barber can still strap on the blades and give them 5-10 shifts a night on the fourth line.
Off topic: my 20 month old just pointed to the viking logo on a stadium cup and said, “moo.”. Am I a failure as a Minnesota parent?
Fasola
Moo= Cow
Cow= Milk
Milk= Cheese
Cheese= Cheesehead
Cheesehead= Packer’s Fan
Fasolamatt= Complete failure as a Minnesota parent.
You could at least turn him/her into a Bears fan, we know how to have some fun!
You could at least turn him/her into a Bears fan
Most parents don’t want their kids in Juvie at such a tender age.
Stu
If makes them tough, that way they can beat the [redacted] out of all the Packer and Viking fans
How long ’til pitchers and catchers report?
Really?
Hm…
If you need me I’ll be playing guitar hero.
I just wanted to report that I saw Okposo during a Gopher football tailgating session this past fall, and my girlfriend absolutely smoked him at beanbags. A keeper, that one.
I wonder what Kyle’s academic standing at Minnesota is at this time? There seems to be something weird about this.
I’ve heard rumors about Okposo’s grades being slightly below eligibility requirements…anyone else heard anything?
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