I'm sorry but these are just not comparable players at all. Lehkonen was actually very good defensively



Tell me, would you trade a 2nd and Jack Studnicka for Okposo?

“Okposo being a locker room leader doesn’t matter” yet “Lucic is a great locker room leader”

Okposo the better leader and player on the ice. But that’s stupid to measure leadership between 2 guys

At the deadline I’d rather keep a 2nd round pick because who knows what it’ll be in 2025 but otherwise yes

Im not measuring leadership at all, I'm pointing out how little relevance it has in a trade here. I have no issue with Buffalo wanting to keep him simple for his presence on the team, by all means because that is how I feel about Lucic.

What do you mean "but otherwise" choose one or the other. Deadline addition of Okposo or 2nd and Studnicka moving forward

If Kyle wants to chase a cup, he has earned that right.

But I think he will extend for 1 to 2 years after being named captain.

This trade doesn't interest me at all

Thats debatable (not untrue, just debatable) because Colorado. Buffalo will be surpassing CGY in that category shortly anyway. Valimaki has mostly played in the A so i dont know why CGYs d ranking would matter anyway

I mean there was just an article that ranked all the D-cores in the league here.

Why would Buffalo surpass them? You are relying completely on all your prospects to pan out. 2 players cant run the whole thing

A year ago with the departure of Gio Valimaki was already full time in the NHL and got his contract accordingly. He however lost that spot with the breakout of Kylington that really no one saw coming. That does not make him less than NHL caliber. It makes him pushed out because Calgary's dcore was so strong last year, and is even better this year

They arent hoping on Power Dahlin nor Samuelsson. Theyre hoping Jokiharju pans out, true, or they replace him. Valimaki isnt going to be that replacement. Bryson Lybushkin Pilut are great 3rd pair guys, then we can talk about hoping on prospects. Valimaki performed as well as Bryson and then lost his job. Theyre both replacement level players, and hes not an upgrade

Okposo won't be traded. Too important to the culture of Buffalo.

For the Bruins no because who knows how good they’ll be in 2024-2025, so the pick could be good. I would love Studnicka. But for Calgary it’s worth it because they’ll for sure be contending in multiple years

I was saying how I shouldn’t be comparing leadership I don’t think you were doing that

A very lively conversation over a second round pick.
One would not expect to generate this much banter if the post was McDavid for Matthews.
last year Okposo's 21 Goals, 45 pts, 104:24 min SH TOI and 16:47 TOI/gm ranked, 24th, 29th, 12th and 38th in the NHL last year, among all RW's.
Let's see 32 teams, 32 RW, unless there is a different counting system all those appear to be top line statistics.
His primary line mates were Girgensons, Eakin, Caggiula, Asplund, Murray, so I guess he was a fourth liner.
So what is the value of a RW whose offensive output ranks him as a top liner but his team mates are fourth liners.
Please take your best shot to convince me a second and a 23 yo LHD with 82 NHL games played is an over pay!

Okposo kept his family in St. Paul, MN nine years he played on the Island, once traded to Buffalo he move his family.
One may have to drag his body out of Buffalo only after he is as cold as the clay.
The trade would only be made if Kyle accepted it at the TDL.

I agree with your assessment.
One note is that there aren't a lot of players listed as RWs as more players are listed as primarily centers or left wings, so his stats are more likely 2nd line than top line.
I think Valimaki's value is underrated, he's still a recent first round pick with a lot of upside who should be able to make Buffalo's roster.

A lot of people have pointed out that Okposo is a leader and potential captain for the Sabres, and I could see them keeping him for that reason.
Like you said, the choice is mainly his, whether he wants to stay as a veteran leader or leave to pursue the Cup. If it's the latter, the trade makes a lot of sense for both teams.

I don't think it's an overpay, we are retaining, which isn't free. I would have no interest in valikmaki, bring in a physical d to play with jokiharju if you like, I would rather have another pick than add another left d that's just gonna get lost in the mix.