Finally, after a season and a half of being without an official leader, Kyle Okposo has been named the 20th captain in Buffalo Sabres history.
By this point for most, this comes as no surprise. The Sabres themselves have been building up to this moment for the past six months, whether it be the video tribute they gave him for the Rick Martin Award back in April or the recognition he got in the latest episode of Sabres Embedded, where he was the first person Kevyn Adams called after signing Eric Comrie.
It became very evident that this was going to be the next leader of this young crop of talent. However, I don't think we should forget the journey to this moment. As much as 13 months ago, the leadership status of the Sabres' organization was very much up in the air.
With their previous holder of the title being stripped of the honor, veteran members of the core in Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen having been dealt months earlier, and a very youthful roster remaining, the burden of the next captain was being placed on the various younger pieces the team had.
Whether it was Dylan Cozens or Rasmus Dahlin, an immense pressure was being put on individuals that were still attempting to find their place in the league. Suffice to say, it wasn't a healthy environment for that type of conversation. It's not that there weren't leaders then, a large group of the guys then are here now and we all know the amount of leadership that they contain, but rather that were more important matters to take care of before taking that huge step for the organization.
Which is likely why Kevyn Adams and Don Granato chose to avoid addressing that position prior to the season. We all remember the spot the franchise was in at that point, they needed to reassess from top to bottom before deciding on the next leader.
However, there were two veteran presences that were chosen to lead youthful group: Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo.
The two longest tenured Sabres were given the chance to guide the rebuild, which made sense. Other than someone pending UFAs in Mark Pysyk, Colin Miller, Drake Caggiula, etc., there weren't any true veteran presences to lean on, so going with the two players that had been through all the losing the longest was logical.
However, it wasn't soon after that we would discover who the true captain was of the two.
Now, no matter how that may sound, that's not a knock on Girgensons at all, whatsoever. To me, he's always given off the impression of a quiet leader that spurs a group through his play on the ice that always involves giving 110% effort; he's more than deserving of the "A."
With Okposo, however, the vocal presence he commands, alongside the constant hustle and effort, made itself known soon enough. After a tremendous start to the season with a 5-1 rout of the Montreal Canadiens that included a great performance from Kyle himself, Okposo penned a letter to the fans. After a long and strenuous offseason, hearing some words of encouragement like that was very relieving as a fan.
It was in that moment that you knew he was the captain of the team, even if he didn't have the "C" to show for it. He became the one to always talk to the media and talk up how tight-knit the current group was becoming.
Then, November 4th comes around. Eichel is finally shipped off for Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch and suddenly the pecking order is rearranged. In the middle of a stretch which included some very tough play for the current roster, Tuch tugged on the heartstrings of all use fans by recognizing the impact that the 05-07' Sabres had on his childhood.
While it seems somewhat comical to think just how much it mattered, having a player relate to the fond memories of fans was enough to cause a shift. However, it wasn't just that, Tuch was the first newly acquired player in a long time to talk about just how excited he was to be a Buffalo Sabre. Along with the mid-2000s recognition, it was Tuch's passion and reverence to become a member of the franchise as a whole that gave a refreshing feeling.
After months of Kevyn Adams trotting out the slogan "We want players that want to be here", here was a player that fulfilled those words. Here was an established player, and a great one at that, that always wanted to be here and help elevate the team to the next level.
It's not that Okposo was suddenly forgotten, it's just that Tuch's presence reflected a new era for the Sabres as a whole. He wasn't connected to what had been, but instead emulated what was to come.
And just like with Girgensons, it's absolutely no knock on Tuch to say that he wasn't the right man for this honor. If Kyle Okposo wasn't on the roster, I don't think there would be anyone else I'd want more to have the captaincy. From the way he spurned Eichel in his return to Buffalo, or the way he was the one to lead Rick Jeanneret onto the ice after a momentous victory on RJ Night, or clearly just being one of the most lovable players on the ice, while one of the hardest workers, Alex Tuch is 100% captain material.
However, when it was all said and done, that Rick Martin video, I think, really changed everyone's perspectives. The powerful words that the players used to describe just how much of an impact Okposo had them was touching, and quite inspiring. It was the cementation of not just that he was likely going to be the next captain, but that the organization was in an infinitely better place now, and it was largely because of him.
What can be easy to forget is just how long Kyle has been here. It's going on seven years, which is wild to think about. The only other Sabres that's been tenured longer is Girgensons, who's been here for nine years, which is even crazier.
Okposo has been right alongside us through all the struggles. The season prior to when he signed, the Sabres finished with 81 points and were on a 90+ point pace the second half of the season. There was still a reasonable amount of optimism with that core at the time. However, the true downfall of the Eichel era began the season Okposo got here, and has continued trending downwards on for the last six years.
Which isn't even to mention the physical struggles he's gone through. His interview on Spittin' Chiclets was one of the most chilling, yet uplifting segments I've ever seen. To hear him speak on the terrifying injury he suffered in 2017 and about the obstacles that he had to endure afterwards, the sleepless nights he had to experience, and the moments that he had to come to terms with his own mortality was harrowing.
Plus, that was only one of four concussions that he's suffered as a Sabres alone. He's likely been on the edge of retirement more than once, and yet to see him crawl all the way back to the NHL and rebound from what was the worst season in his entire career in 2021, to his best and most impactful as a Sabre last season, was awe-inspiring.
We've said this before and we'll say it again: Alex Tuch is a perfect choice for captain because he embodies everything Kevyn Adams and Don Granato want their players to be, but Kyle Okposo is the heart & soul of this team that's been through more than any person ever should be, and still came back even stronger. He's the only choice to be captain now.
As for how long he'll serve and who comes after? Who knows?
What I do know is that I've never been more confident and comfortable in a Sabres captain since I've started seriously following the team, and that feels so good to say. It's not often that in today's NHL you get to see a grizzled veteran be rewarded with the captaincy, which makes this even more a testament to Kyle.
Like we've said, the Sabres could've selected any number of players to take on this role, whether it be Tuch, Girgensons, Dahlin, Cozens, or whomever, but there was only ever one correct and deserving choice. Okposo's career is starting to wind itself down, who knows how long he'll keep playing, but if he's ever able to see a postseason appearance through within his tenure, I know exactly who I want to score the first Sabres playoff goal in over a decade.
So cheers to the Sabres making the easiest decision in years, and cheers to Kyle Okposo for making it so.
And as always, Go Sabres.
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