Kyle Okposo: A Farewell From the Former Buffalo Sabres Captain

The guy once known as “Dad” inside the locker room is hanging up his skate.

Kyle Okposo, who served as the captain of the Buffalo Sabres for the last season and a half he played here, announced his retirement Thursday in an open letter posted to CAA Hockey’s Twitter/X account.

“I still get butterflies thinking about watching opening night of the season each year. The thing I didn’t know as a kid was all the tireless work done behind the scenes that made it such a privilege to play in the National Hockey League,” he says, going on to thank the trainers, coaches, teammates, and others who supported him and his love of hockey throughout his career.

“A huge thank you to the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Florida Panthers. I always tried to reciprocate the trust you put in me,” he writes.

Okposo’s tenure in Buffalo was a complicated one. He arrived here before the 2016-2017 season after starting his career as a top prospect and anticipated star with the New York Islanders, playing more than half of his 1,051 games in the Blue and Gold before being traded, at his request, to the Panthers at the trade deadline.

But shortly before the end of his first season as a Sabre, Okposo suffered a severe concussion, sending him into the neurosurgical ICU at Buffalo General Hospital. When he rejoined the team, he became an outspoken advocate for the importance of mental health support.

After the May 2022 shooting at the Tops of Jefferson Avenue, Okposo led the team to visit the site and provide support for victims and their families, speaking out against violence and the need to stand together in support of our neighbors.

Okposo wore an A on his jersey as an alternate captain in the 2021-2022 season before being promoted, seamlessly and with the support of his team, to the captaincy for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. He became known as a leader and supportive figure in the locker room, earning the nickname “Dad” from the other players. the respect and admiration they had for (admittedly) one of the older guys in the room publicly apparent to fans and players alike.

During his press conference after the trade deadline, Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams got emotional talking about Okposo’s contribution to the Sabres, stopping to clear his throat when thanking Okposo for his time and wishing him and his wife, Danielle, and their four young children well in their transition to Florida.

Okposo was able to lift the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in June, receiving the hardest trophy in sports to win just after the team’s captain.

The impact and legacy of Okposo in Buffalo will not be diminished with his retirement.

"It's impossible to overstate what Kyle has meant to this group—he is patient, he is a lifelong learner, he is level-headed, and most of all, he is proud to be a Buffalo Sabre," Adams said when announcing Okposo’s captaincy. “When times get difficult, Kyle knows when to speak up, and when he does, the team takes it to heart. Kyle and his family have made Buffalo their home and want to see our organization succeed, both on and off the ice. I am proud that Kyle will represent our organization with class and dignity."

In his letter, Okposo closes by saying he’s ready for whatever comes next.

“30 years of playing hockey was incredible. It brought me to some amazing places and provided such unique experiences. I believe the game is in a great place right now, but the possibilities are vast. I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to the game as it reaches new heights.”