from Daniel Friedman of CBS New York,
I’m not sure why people can’t seem to accept the fact or realize that Okposo is a star. Maybe it’s the toe drags or the past inconsistency that’s stuck in the collective memory of this fan base. Maybe people are trying to justify letting Okposo play elsewhere by pretending he’s not the kind of player any team would want.
Whatever the logic behind it, it’s severely flawed. All he does is produce. He’s meshed very well with John Tavares ever since the two were first united on a line together. He works hard for loose pucks in the corners and skates hard on every shift.
That might not have been good enough for USA Hockey, for some inexplicable reason, but it’s sure as heck good enough for the Islanders.
Normally, when assessing this team’s forward group, the conversation always starts with Tavares. If someone else is having a standout year, he’s the best player not named Tavares in the lineup. But through 33 games this season, Tavares hasn’t been their best forward. He’s been a tick or two behind his normal rate.
The Islanders’ best forward through 33 games has been Okposo, who has both out-produced and outplayed Tavares in just about every facet of the sport to this point.
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