E.L. wrote:
Elliotte picked up on it too. Okposo's a pending UFA after next season, so it could depend on how well the Isles play early on.
Quote:
11. Newsday’s Arthur Staple reported Saturday night Islanders’ forward Kyle Okposo may be on the trade block. That was the first I heard of Okposo, but it’s indicative of what is happening out there. There are a lot of prominent names getting thrown around/asked about. We throw around words like “shopped,” and “available,” but a fairer way of describing it might be “tested.” I think there’s a lot of that going on, with GMs discussing certain players (or asking about them), just to see what nibbles they get.
He's been a bargain for the Isles for a long time. Maybe they think his body won't hold up over a long term deal?
I've read a lot of speculation over the last day. Some say they fear his eye not being 100%. Some say he's asking, and may get from someone else, for $7 million/year on his next contract. I can't see the Isles paying him that. Some say he's the "top 6 forward" being dangled to possibly bring back Sharp, Kesler or Kessel. I can't see dropping "only" $3 million/year being worth it for Chicago, but maybe his name is a starting point. Or, as Friedman says, maybe it's just testing the waters to see what they could get in return. If someone blows them away, maybe Snow trades him. I can't see why they'd move him for Sharp. He's younger, cheaper, better, AND he's younger, cheaper and better. There are also the facts that he's younger, cheaper and better than Sharp...
It's all speculation at this point... Time will tell.