Rumor: Jets pursuing Kyle Okposo

[gbill2004*]

Per Ken Wiebe: As @StapeNewsday reported, #NHLJets are among the teams pursuing pending #Isles free agent Kyle Okposo during the negotiating window

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[Flair Hay]

Didn't see that one coming. Doubt it amounts to much anyway though. Habs have to be gunning for a guy like him or Ladd.

 

[surixon]

He scores well, does anyone know what his underlying numbers look like?

 

[allan5oh]

I'm not sure how he fits in with our forward makeup. Maybe they want to put Ehlers on the left side and Perreault at center?

 

[ATLbound]

Didn't see that one coming. Doubt it amounts to much anyway though. Habs have to be gunning for a guy like him or Ladd.

Apperently Okposo won't go to Montreal. He has a list of teams he would sign with and Montreal was not on it. I read that somewhere from a Montreal news source. Not sure if Jets are on it. Lots of teams
Will be gunning for Okposo, Ladd, Lucic though

 

[ATLbound]

I'm not sure how he fits in with our forward makeup. Maybe they want to put Ehlers on the left side and Perreault at center?

We would almost certainly have to deal Stafford.

Ehlers- Scheif- Wheeler
Laine- Little- Okposo
Connor-Perreault- Armia/ Dano

Pretty deadly

 

[JetsFan815]

Hope this is not like the time when the Jets were "pursuing" Zach Parise. Talk is cheap, I will believe it when they actually pull one of these high profile signings off.

On the other hand Chevy did say multiple times prior to the draft that they'd like to add a top 9 forward, so maybe there is something to this. Getting a free asset like Okposo would certainly take some of the sting out of the draft.

 

[allan5oh]

He scores well, does anyone know what his underlying numbers look like?

His CorsiRel numbers are good. Always top 5-10 on his team. Most players ahead of him would have an easier role.

 

[Whileee]

Prefer Okposo to Ladd.

Who do they protect in the expansion draft? I guess Okposo over Perreault.

Could the Jets engage in some fancy footwork?

Negotiate a contract extension with Perreault, but don't sign it. LV won't select him in the expansion draft because he's a pending UFA. Then the Jets sign the new deal after the expansion draft. Risky for Perreault, but otherwise he might be going to an expansion team.

 

[Sweech]

This free agent class seems loaded with LWers and pretty light on RWers.

Not surprised we'd show interest though, but I doubt we could meet the $$$ demands.

You'd also think that bringing him in would further exacerbate the forwards crunch and mean Chevy has to make moves to juggle them around.

 

[AWSAA]

We would almost certainly have to deal Stafford.

Ehlers- Scheif- Wheeler
Laine- Little- Okposo
Connor-Perreault- Armia/ Dano

Pretty deadly

Petan > Dano > Armia (although Nic's 2-way contract probably means he's back with the Moose)

 

[surixon]

Prefer Okposo to Ladd.

Who do they protect in the expansion draft? I guess Okposo over Perreault.

Could the Jets engage in some fancy footwork?

Negotiate a contract extension with Perreault, but don't sign it. LV won't select him in the expansion draft because he's a pending UFA. Then the Jets sign the new deal after the expansion draft. Risky for Perreault, but otherwise he might be going to an expansion team.

They likely have to trade a dmen if they grab him and do the 7-3 scheme.

Protect:

Wheeler, Scheifele, Little, Okposo, Perrault, Dano, one of Lowry or Burmie.

 

[Sweech]

Prefer Okposo to Ladd.

Who do they protect in the expansion draft? I guess Okposo over Perreault.

Could the Jets engage in some fancy footwork?

Negotiate a contract extension with Perreault, but don't sign it. LV won't select him in the expansion draft because he's a pending UFA. Then the Jets sign the new deal after the expansion draft. Risky for Perreault, but otherwise he might be going to an expansion team.

For the protection is that assuming 4 forwards and 4 D? I'm guessing we may go 7 forwards and either trade Enstrom (I don't like that) or expose Myers.

They likely have to trade a dmen if they grab him and do the 7-3 scheme.

Protect:

Wheeler, Scheifele, Little, Okposo, Perrault, Dano, one of Lowry or Burmie.

Yes. That's exactly what I'm thinking as well.

 

[Whileee]

We would almost certainly have to deal Stafford.

Ehlers- Scheif- Wheeler
Laine- Little- Okposo
Connor-Perreault- Armia/ Dano

Pretty deadly

Hard not to like that.

 

[Chewmasey]

Anyone know what type of money he wants or term?
I think he might be slightly interested to play for Winnipeg maybe because it's close to Minnesota?
Interesting for sure.

 

[Whileee]

For the protection is that assuming 4 forwards and 4 D? I'm guessing we may go 7 forwards and either trade Enstrom (I don't like that) or expose Myers.

They'd need to move Enstrom. I can't imagine that they'll leave Myers unprotected.

 

[JetsFan815]

We would almost certainly have to deal Stafford.

Ehlers- Scheif- Wheeler
Laine- Little- Okposo
Connor-Perreault- Armia/ Dano

Pretty deadly

That's a very good looking top-9

 

[AWSAA]

For the protection is that assuming 4 forwards and 4 D? I'm guessing we may go 7 forwards and either trade Enstrom (I don't like that) or expose Myers.

Trading Enstrom is way better option than exposing Myers though. Tyler may still be in the NHL 7-8+ years after Toby has retired.

 

[Sweech]

Trading Enstrom is way better option than exposing Myers though. Tyler may still be in the NHL 7-8+ years after Toby has retired.

Myer's injury history and continued injury problems may be a worry though.

 

[Le Golie]

Okposo is going to have a lot of teams after him. He's one of the premier players available.

He's getting paid.

 

[Sweech]

Okposo is going to have a lot of teams after him. He's one of the premier players available.

He's getting paid.

How many teams out there have the cap room and money available?

It seems like out of all the free agents some are going to have to take price cuts.

Although I doubt Okposo will as he seems to be the best RW out there.

 

[Le Golie]

How many teams out there have the cap room and money available?

It seems like out of all the free agents some are going to have to take price cuts.

Although I doubt Okposo will as he seems to be the best RW out there.

Kings, Blues, Wings and his home time Wild have also reportedly begun pursuing him.

 

[Sweech]

Kings, Blues, Wings and his home time Wild have also reportedly begun pursuing him.

Kings barely have cap-space as is and still have to fill out the rest of their roster and will need to pay players like Toffoli and Pearson next year. I can't see them as serious contenders at all.

I can't see the Wild being interested in a long term deal as they already have several and could really be in a bind in the future.

Blues is interesting, but why give Okposo the money they claim to not have to keep Backes, Brouwer, Shattenkirk, etc?

Wings is legit. They could throw some money around (especially at Stamkos allegedly).

 

[CanWin]

I heard an interview today on 1290 with Chipman where he indicated quite strongly that the Jets were going after free agents. I don't remember whether he was talking plural or singular. My guess is that the next couple of weeks could still be quite exciting hockeywise.

 

[Aavco Cup]

I heard an interview today on 1290 with Chipman where he indicated quite strongly that the Jets were going after free agents. I don't remember whether he was talking plural or singular. My guess is that the next couple of weeks could still be quite exciting hockeywise.

He was asked by Lawless if there was mony in the budget to target players in free agency. He said absolutely there was.

Not sure how interested we are but I believe Okposo was a teammate of Wheeler's at Minnesota. Maybe the Minny Mafia is tecruiting?