Canadiens Off-Season Target: Kyle Okposo

The Canadiens could set their sights on UFA winger Kyle Okposo and insert the American’s offensive style into their lineup.

With the Canadiens falling short of the playoffs, it is time to discuss possible players the team will target during the off-season. With the Habs desperately needing some top 6 scoring, one name that comes to mind is Kyle Okposo.

Kyle Okposo was drafted 7th overall in the 2006 NHL entry draft. From the day he entered the NHL, Okposo has shown that he could be a reliable point producer in a more supporting role for his team’s bigger stars. He currently ranks 8th in career points from a decently strong draft class of offensive players with 139 goals and 369 points in 529 career games.

Kyle Okposo is only 28 years old and has just come off his second career 60+ point season with 22 goals and 64 points in 79 games. He is currently playing on the first line alongside superstar John Tavares with the Islanders. Yes, a right wing playing alongside John Tavares, an experiment that has not worked out well for the Canadiens in the past (P.A. Parenteau). But there is reason to think that this will be different based on the age and skill level of the player. He has shown that he can produce without Johnny T centring him when he scored 52 points in 80 games in the 2009-10 season and 24 goals in 79 games during the 2011-12 season.

It has been reported that Okposo will part ways with the Islanders after their playoff run. Okposo is known for generating a good amount of offense. However, the Habs may need to trade a contract so that he can fit into the team’s salary cap.

Why Okposo fits the Canadiens

With the Canadiens desperately in need of some offense, Kyle Okposo should be able to provide them with some as he has put up an average of about 26 goals/82 games. While Okposo has struggled to stay healthy for an entire season throughout his career, he has always seemed to produce when in the line up.

While his 6 foot stature isn’t that big, his 217 LBS would add size to the Habs small top six group on the wing especially with Max Pacioretty being the only legitimate top-6 winger over 6’and 200LBS.

He could help form a good second line alongside 2-way centre Tomas Plekanec, and another decently skilled offensive player. He could be the piece that finally creates a skilled Canadiens top 6 forward group that the team has been missing for years. He could also benefit playing alongside a more defensive minded centre alongside Plekanec, in order to play a more complete 2-way game.

Or he could also line-up on the first line with the team’s new dynamic duo of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. Pushing workhorse Brendan Gallagher down to the second line if the team needs a jump on the second line.

What it will cost the Canadiens

Based off of what the pending UFA will cost on July 1st, the Habs will need to move a contract in order, to have the money to sign the American forward.

Players that the Habs could dangle around include Lars Eller, Alexei Emelin and David Desharnais.

With Emelin’s contract finally having his full-trade clause shifting to a partial no-trade clause, the Habs can finally trade him to a team looking for defensive depth without the Russian defenseman preventing the trade from being possible. With his salary, it could be harder to trade his 4.1M salary than it sounds. However, a team looking to hit the cap floor could take a chance on him and send over a mid-round pick in return.

Next: Canadiens Off-Season Target: Jonathan Drouin

Despite this, Lars Eller is likely the easiest of the three to move in order to sign Okposo. With his decent 2-way game, Eller could attract a team looking for a stable 3rd line centre. He could fetch a return of a B level prospect and a mid round pick if traded.

Once the Habs trade one of these guys they should have enough to offer Kyle Okposo a nice contract which could be about a 5 year and 30+ million range.

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