At 11:18 a.m. Friday, the New York Islanders posted on their web site the news that they had signed Kyle Okposo to a three-year contract.

As everyone knows, Okposo told the Gophers last week he was leaving the team in the middle of season to turn pro. And now the Okposo era is over.

Terms of his contract were not announced. But rookies usually sign two-way contracts. If Okposo makes the Islanders, he could receive a maximum salary of $850,000 per yearplus a signing bonus according to the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

If he is assigned to the Islanders’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Connecticut, his yearly max would fall to $62,500. That’s a lot of incentive to stay with the Isles.

The Isles’ press release was curiously vague where Okposo would start. It just said, “Okposo will become a member of the Islanders organization following the conclusion of the World Junior Championships, where he is a member of Team USA.”

That tournament is being played in theCzech Republic. It ends Jan. 5.

Team USA is 2-0 in pool play so far after beating Switzerland 4-2 on Friday. Okposo had an assist in that game.

You have to think the Isles promised Okposo a good shot at making their NHL roster.

Look at what Islanders officials were saying:

GM Garth Snow: “Our organization is going to work extremely hard to make him the best player that he can be. With the energy, enthusiasm and heart Kyle brings to the rink every night, there’s no doubt he’s going to be a favorite of Islanders fans for a long time.”

It was Snow, of course, who criticized Gophers coach Don Lucia for not developing Okposo the right way.

Isles coach Ted Nolan on Okposo: “I’ve had the chance to observe Kyle and talk with him at our prospect development camps. This is a very gifted hockey player and a special individual. I was asked the other day to compare him to Jarome Iginla or other power forwards in the NHL. My response is that it’s our responsibility to develop him and see that Kyle Okposo makes a name for himself.”

There’s that D word again, development.

Do you think Okposo will stick with the Islanders this season? And, if he does, will he be an impact player in the NHL?

He was starting to play better with the Gophers after a slow start. Now, as a pro, he has a lot more incentive to keep improving.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 28th, 2007 at 6:56 pm and is filed under Gophers men's hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.