Okposo will draw back into Panthers lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 6

If anyone can appreciate the gravity of the situation occurring on Monday in Sunrise, it’s Kyle Okposo.

The veteran of 17 NHL seasons and over 1,000 games is playing in his first Stanley Cup Final.

He was a healthy scratch in Game 6 after playing in eight straight playoff games for Florida but will draw back into the lineup for the winner-take-all Game 7.

At the ripe age of 36 years old, Okposo has an appreciation for the situation that comes from a very unique viewpoint, one generally afforded to a select few veteran players who earn the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup in the twilight of their respective careers.

Okposo, who has had very limited exposure to the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite playing in the league for so long, certainly understands the gravity of what this all means.

Speaking to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox after Florida’s morning skate ahead of Game 7, Okposo told an interesting little story that certainly put things into perspective for where he’s coming from on this incredible day.

“I grabbed my son today, who is eight (years old), and said, ‘You know what I was doing when I was your age? I was in the driveway with my rollerblades on pretending I was in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final,’” Okposo told Fox. “’How special is it you’re going to the game?’”

With so much on the line in a monumental game, it’s the personal stories like that one that can really strike a chord.

Every hockey player, coach and fan has their own, individual link to why they play the game or root for a team.

Everyone will have a unique experience on Friday, no matter which team comes out on top.

If Florida emerges victorious, Okposo will be one of the first to be handed the Stanley Cup.

We’ll see how it all plays out on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

The puck drops at 8 p.m. 

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