Former NY Islanders Kyle Okposo set to start a new chapter in his hockey life

Kyle Okposo, former New York Islanders forward and universally respected NHL veteran, is officially stepping into a new chapter. The NHL Players’ Association announced that Okposo is joining their ranks as a business development and player engagement adviser, which should be a perfect fit.

After wrapping up a 17-season NHL career, capped by a storybook Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, Okposo is staying close to the game that defined his adult life. And for those of us who watched him come up through the Islanders system and wear the “A” with pride, it’s no surprise he’s becoming a leader in the sport off the ice. “I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,” Okposo told The Associated Press. “It’s given me everything... and I wanted to continue to stay in it.”

Okposo was also part of the search committee that brought Marty Walsh as the NHLPA’s new executive director in 2023. That collaboration clicked, and after some bonding at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, Okposo is now set to work alongside Walsh and Ron Hainsey to help shape the union's future.

"Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union," Okposo said. "For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA."

Okposo was known for his leadership, honesty, and intelligence throughout his career. Now, he can bring those same intangibles to the NHLPA, helping the next generation of players and potentially finding new opportunities outside of hockey. A 2006 first-round pick (7th overall), captain of the Buffalo Sabres and Stanley Cup champion with Florida, "KO" finished his career playing in 1,051 career games with 242 goals and 372 assists for 614 total points.