For the first time in his 17-year NHL career, former New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri is headed to the Stanley Cup Final.
For the first time in his 17-year NHL career, former New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri is headed to the Stanley Cup Final.
After spending the better part of eight years with the Buffalo Sabres, the last two seasons as their captain, former New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo decided he wanted to be moved to a team with a chance at hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup.
For the 36-year-old, who hadn't played in the playoffs since 2016 -- his last season on Long Island -- the team he believed could get the job done was the Florida Panthers, who lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
It was a good call because, on Saturday night, Okposo and the Panthers punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Islanders' cross-town rival New York Rangers 2-1 to close out the series four games to two.
Although not a starter with Florida, playing in just six regular season games following the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, the 36-year-old has suited up for 11 of their 17 playoff games with two assists.
Okposo spoke on what it meant to him to play playoff hockey again, since he knows that he's at the tail end of his career.
Drafted seventh overall by the Islanders in 2004, Okposo played nine years on the island, with 139 goals and 230 assists for 369 points in 529 games.
In three playoff runs, Okposo potted seven goals with eight assists in 24 games.
From 2010-2016, the St. Paul, Minnesota native served as an alternate captain.
Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals begins Saturday, June 8, but first, we must see who comes out of the Western Conference.
The Edmonton Oilers will look to advance to the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday when they host the Dallas Stars at 8 PM ET (TNT, Tru, Max), up three games to two.