The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Kyle Okposo on Playoff Hockey in Buffalo, What Kevyn Adams Built, Jack Eichel, and more

Episode Date: April 21, 2026

Kyle Okposo joins the show to discuss what playoff hockey means to the city of Buffalo, the emotion of experiencing the postseason after such a long drought, and the atmosphere surrounding the Sabres as playoff hockey returns.#NHL #StanleyCupPlayoffs #CarolinaHurricanes #PhiladelphiaFlyers #BuffaloSabres #DallasStars #MinnesotaWild #PorterMartone #GregWyshynski #KyleOkposo #JeffMarek #TheSheet #HockeySHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼 Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-pro-6-in-1-countertop-glass-air-fryer-rose-quartz/AS101CRS.html?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid+Social&utm_campaign=H1NinjaCrispi&utm_content=NinjaEN&dwvar_AS101CRS_color=cdb9b8Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's get to someone who has won the Stanley Cup. Let's get to someone who played with the Buffalo Sabers. And let's get to someone who's a great talker and a great ambassador for the game. He has Kyle a Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers who played a sizable chunk of his career with the Buffalo Sabers. And Kyle, thanks so much for joining us today. I don't think you're surprised at the reaction of Buffalo Sabers fans because these guys go crazy. And, you know, I can't tell you, Kyle. How many people I've talked to who were there who said, like, someone lit up a joint beside me or someone was smoking behind me.

It's like, these are hockey fans, right? Your thoughts of what we're seeing with the Buffalo Sabres fans right now? Oh, it's just a long time coming. Yeah. So much pent up energy and emotion. And like if you've ever been to a Bills game, you'll understand that sports is just different in Buffalo. It's part of the fabric of the community. Like if you walk into a barbershop on Monday morning and the bills and Sabres have lost on the weekend

Like everybody's pissed everybody's mad like that's all people are talking about it's it's it's It's part of the community and that's that's what makes it special and and so you saw the videos and and everything from pregame during the game and just really happy for for the entire community of Buffalo Totally great how how jealous are you that this is the Sabres team that gets to do this I mean you guys all played there. You all knew that if you could get over the hump, that this could happen. How jealous of you are you of like, Tage and all them being the ones that finally got to do it? You do realize that Kyle won a Stanley Cup. Like, I think if I like, yeah, at the end of all of it, there's a ring. The name. Kyle Bled, blue and gold, baby. Cut him and he bleeds blue and gold. Like, this is a man who had an amazing amount of pride being a saber. Hey, I, I'm not jealous at all.

Honestly, I'm really happy for the guys that are there and have put the work in and been a part of the change. And if I look back on my time there and my career, like I poured everything that I had into that city, into that community, into that team. And, you know, I would like to think that I had a very small piece in, you know, just teaching those guys how to be, you know, a good group of people. people and you know they're great ambassadors you know Rass Dahlene is is a great leader for that team but the the core that they have they're they're special people they're really good people and so I'm not jealous honestly I'm just really happy for for them and and community you know they say that it's an old art saying but I think it applies to sports you know all art is a collaboration you don't do anything on your own you don't create anything on your own and for a team like the

sabres, whether there are some players that are there or in your case, some players that are not, like the effects are still there. The thing about you, Kyle, that I was always told, is further to Greg's point. You know, one of, you know, outside of how you played, which was, as we all know, like intense every shift, one of the reasons why you were so important there is you'd been through a lot, you'd seen a lot, you'd experience a lot, and younger players could lean on you. And you were someone that they could talk to. But here's the interesting thing that I was told too. It wasn't just players.

There was like other people in the organization that would be like, let's get Kyle's opinion on this one. And that's unique, as you know, in the NHL. Is that accurate? Yeah, I would say it's accurate. I mean, I've always had a, I would say an analytical mind and a pretty objective mind. You know, I knew when I was playing well.

I knew when I wasn't playing well. But I was kind of able to look at the team and where we were at and give an honest assessment. And I think that once people kind of figured that out, then they started to pick my brain on a few more things that weren't just hockey. And I just, I don't know, I took a lot of pride in just doing the right thing and leaving a place better than I found it. That was, you know, I got a picture in my basement that says leave it better than you found it.

and that's really what I tried to do in Buffalo. And there was a lot of work that went on behind the scenes, different conversations about the direction, about, you know, the franchise, everything. And I just tried to give my honest opinion, and that led to some conversations that, you know, at times we're uncomfortable, but I can look back on it and say that, you know, I felt like I did everything I could to really help. you know, move that franchise forward and in a better place. And I'm, like I said, really just happy for them.

Let me jump in with a frivolous one here really quickly. Black and red or blue and gold? I love the goldheads. When we brought those back, when Rask dead, the one day, he's like, we're evil in those jerseys. And we, like, really embodied that. So I love the black and red. All right.

You guys are both wrong. It's obviously the, it's obviously the buff of slug. Who doesn't like an angry cashew nut on the front of their jersey? Kyle, you were there 2016 to 2024, so you were there for a good chunk of the drought. Did you guys, within the room, feel the weight of that drought? Was it more of us thing that fans and media paid attention to, or was it something that you guys were cognizant of the fact that you hadn't been in the playoffs for several seasons? No, we knew. and as the years went on and it just got heavier and heavier, I would say,

and then you'd get later into the season and then it would weigh on you more because then you would hear it from more people in the town. And I spent my summers there for the last four years that I was there, four or five years that I was there. So I would talk to these people in the summer and talk to business owners, members of the community, avid savers fans. and you could feel everybody and the disappointment at where the franchise was at. And, you know, that was one thing I tried to do also was, you know,

just give fans and people that I knew, like a glimpse into, like, some of the things that were trying to, you know, go on behind the scenes and things that we were trying to change as a group of players. And, but there was, there was a definite weight in the room. and you can feel it. And it's hard when you've had success your entire life as a hockey player and as an athlete. Most of these guys in other junior careers and college careers, youth careers, like they're special players.

They're phenomenal players. They win a lot. And then you come and do a situation where there hasn't been a lot of success and you're just like, okay, why not? Like what's happening? And it can be a lot. So you definitely feel it. You know, this has been such an interesting season for the Buffalo Sabres going on the run.

Even though they started their run when Kevin Adams was still a general manager, Yarmou Keke Kalan takes over, and it's attached a rocket ship to their backs, and it was turned into the best story that we saw all season long. But, you know, it seemed like every time the Sabres won this year, it was like Kevin Adams could puff out his chest a little bit more. Like, yes, don't you see? Like, this is, like, I don't know if Kevin Adams is going to win the GM of the year. I'm pretty sure he's not.

But you can make a pretty compelling. case for the guy that should win the GM of the year isn't even a general manager anymore. What was your relationship like with Adams? And when it came to trade deadline before you went to the Florida Panthers, what were the conversations like with you and Kevin and Patrysaint? Like, how did that all work? Well, it was, well, Kevin, let me say, is a phenomenal person. He's a really good family man.

He's got a great heart. He wants to do the right things. And he's just a really good person. So him and I connected on that level very well. You know, I've got four kids and really enjoy being around my family. So we definitely bonded over those ties. And when I was on my way out, I knew it was going to be most likely my last season. And, you know, we had chatted a little bit earlier in the season about, you know,

potentially moving if things weren't going well. And with me being the captain there, I wanted to make sure that I was doing right by the team all the way through the season. And Kevin did right by me, the organization did right by me at the end. And I kind of had the choice of where I wanted to go. And Florida was it.

And we were able to work it out. So I was probably a bit more involved than most players when it comes to getting traded just because of where I was at in my career. and Kevin did me that courtesy of sending me to Florida. And yeah, I can't say enough about, you know, the Pagulas and Kevin at the time and the way that I was treated on my way out. It was first class all the way. You know, you arrived in Buffalo in, what was it there, 2016, 2017.

So if I had said at the time, the Sabres snap their playoff drought, you're probably thinking Jack Eichel had something to do with it. You arrived in his second season in the NHL. You were there for all of it. With the benefit of hindsight, what did you think about the Eichael era in Buffalo? And then what do you think about what he's been able to accomplish in Vegas? Jack is, I love Jack.

He's just a phenomenal guy. He wears his heart in his sleeve. And when he was younger, he was such a talent. and he had so many areas in his game that were just unlike anything anybody else on the ice could do, how explosive he was, how easy he made the game, how he can dissect the game with somebody on his back, was at a level that nobody could really hang with? Other than honestly Sam, like Sam's one of the smartest players in the NHL. I mean, you've all heard Paul Ries and talk so glowingly about Reinhard and how good of a complimentary piece and how smart of a player he is.

And like him, he got Jack. And so those two were just a ton of fun to watch. And it was it was hard, I think, for Jack in the beginning of his career to, you know, to find that, you know, chemistry with a ton of people just because he saw the game so uniquely. And so when, you know, everything happened when he left, and that's been well documented. And when he went to Vegas, you knew how talented he was. And then when I watched him play when he got to Vegas and then when they went on their run, I was so proud of how much he made his teammates better and how much he made the team better because of how committed he was to the two-way game.

And it just, you see it in all these star players that have gone through their careers that were really high point getters early and that they may have sacrificed some of the offensive upside for the team success. And that's why hockey's so special is because it truly takes a team to win. And like Steve Aiserman is probably one of the most famous examples in Detroit in the 90s. Like he really changed his games in order to win. and Jack's no different. So I'm, I'm, it's been so much fun to watch his career arc and, um, and the special player that he was, he is now and he will continue to be in the future. You know, that, that's, that's a really interesting point because we, we always hear

and Eisenman's a fantastic example. I think Jack Eichel is a great example. Every, players will always say, like you did this, Kyle, like players will always say, I'll do anything to win the Stanley Cup. I'll do any role. I don't care. I'll change my. But it seems like every player says that, but what they leave out is, but I'll only do it on my terms.

You know, like, I'll do, I'll do whatever it takes as long as I decide what that is. But you're right. Like it's the, and I go is a great example that. I mean, the way he played in Buffalo is, I don't know he plays in Vegas, obviously. Like, how difficult, I'm curious, like, how difficult is that to do to say, all right, swallow ego time. Let's win a Stanley Cup. well there's there's some guys that have a tougher time with it than others and every player really

with the exception of maybe a few go through that at some point in their career like i remember my 600th game and i got benched like i was playing horrible just not good and i got benched for the third period and i'm just like oh my gosh like this is wild like you've been like a top you know two-line guy your whole career and then it's like all right you can kind of see the writing on the wall so what do i want to do i want to like maybe bounce around like get bought out or do i want to adapt be a great teammate learn how to be a great teammate become a leader for this group figure out how to teach these young guys the game and change my game so i can still be effective like i had to make that decision and then so when i got to florida and you know i had my first meeting with with mo

and he's like, I'm not sure how much you're going to get in the lineup. And it's like, all right, that's fine. Like, I've been through this before. Like, I know how to handle it. I know how to be in the room. I'm not going to sit and be sulky. Like, I came here and I'm going to do whatever it takes to win. And there's some guys that, you know, have a different path figuring that out than others.

But for me, it was, you know, like you got two choices. And I tried to go down the path that I thought was right. last one for me like buffalo as you said is a special hockey market we always talk about on the show about how back in the day they would drive a national television rating based on how many people in buffalo are watching hockey on a given afternoon like it's it's crazy it's so exciting that they're good again do you see this as the turn the corner moment i mean like kevin adams famously had the we can't attract people to buffalo because they don't have palm trees here how much is like the enthue enthusiasm in a market. And like, players are watching this. They're watching a bunch of knuckleheads doff on their tops in 30-degree weather and it's snowing outside in April during a playoff game watch party. Like how much of the enthusiasm that's been uncorked in that market can compensate for it being Buffalo, New York?

It can help a lot. It's still different than, you know, some of the other stories that you've seen around the league. You know, the Schenner, Juan, has been. documented it with the islanders and there's excitement in different markets based on where they're at and Buffalo historically hasn't been able to attract some of the top talent for various different reasons but it is a phenomenal you weren't you weren't saying that in the mid 2000s when they were winning president's trophies and you know early the late 90s and 99 when they go to the finals and lose like it was a desirable place to play and and you know at the same time

was Florida the most desirable place to play? Like probably not. You know, like guys weren't going there. And so it goes in swings just like your team arcs. And when you do come out on the other side, I think that teams have to do a good job in marketing their markets and their capabilities. And with social media, you're able to do that, you know,

tenfold now and a much granted. or scale. But there is definitely an excitement about the market, and I'm sure that, you know, it will probably attract more, more players. Okay. I'm not going to ask you for a week. Can we, can we shout out Kyle's backdrop for a second? Stanley Cup in the frame.

I know. The head of a lion in a portrait behind him. He's in a giant leather chair. Dude, you have the CEO set up right here. No, he's very impressive. I got a bunch of toys and shit behind me. You've got the CEO set up. It is pretty good, man.

I've been on Zoom's a lot. I'm working at the Soul of a Lion. So like I love a big red wine guys. Anybody knows me. And so Dow, Soul of a Lion, is that, like, that's the wine and had it painted because I just loved it so much. And like I, my wife actually bought it for me. before my last season. And she's like,

this is how you got to play it. So just a little backstory on that one. Oh, nice. Did you, did you and Zito bond over wine, by the way?

Did you crack open some rare bottles with Billy when you were there? I didn't really just because it was all business when I got down there. And then I had to be a dance trials in Minnesota like right after we won. So it was,

he was trying to win a Stanley Cup. He had a $500,000 bonus to do so. So he was. was focused. My favorite Florida, by the way, wine story, Igor Laryonoff. I don't know if he still has his own wine label. Slapshot, Shiraz, would have been one.

But he had like an exquisite wine cellar at his home just outside of Detroit. And one of the contingencies of waving his note trade to go to Florida was they had to bring the wine cellar. I think he only played like 20 games with Florida, but I don't know how much they had to pay. But Larry Onoff had it brought. I'm not going to ask you for a team.

I'm just going to assume that it's the Buffalo Sabres, but I'm going to ask you about a player. Kyle, last question. for you. Brent Burns, Claude Jureau, Matt Socorlo, Jared Spurgeon. There's a lot of candidates, Matias at home. Like older players that haven't won the Stanley Cup yet. Is there a player in the playoffs that you're like,

oh, I really hope this guy, much like we all cheered for you with the cats. Oh, yeah, Kyle got his cup. Is there a guy like that for you out there? On the spot. Yeah, I don't know if I can, I don't know if I can narrow it down to just one, especially with my role at the PA, but it's so much fun to watch, you know,

all the older players, just because I pretty recently went through it, and it just means so much. Like the perspective that you get when you're at the end of your career and how difficult it is to win, especially when you haven't, it's just,

you know, it's just a little bit different, I think, that when you're a younger player and all those guys that you just listed are phenomenal and all would be, I would be happy for every single one of them. I think Jamie Ben is another one.

Yes, that's a good one. Matt DeShane. Matt DeShane would be there, Dallas. Yeah, Matt DeShane. Those are some good ones. Yeah, they've all just put their bodies through so much. Like, Brunch, he's got the game streak, and, you know, I know Jamie's been, he's dealt with a lot in his career,

and, yeah, we'd love to see any one of those guys hoist this silver mug. Okay. Kyle, you know what they're going through now, by the way, Kyle, you know what they're going through?

They're going through getting those questions from idiots like me deep into the final. When you think back to yourself in the driveway, you know, plans,

what did you think about? I swear to God, by the end of your run with the Panthers, I thought you were going to strangle us for asking you so many old guy without a cup questions.

I will say this. If I don't, the old saying is the hands go first? I don't know, man. That was some exquisite stick hands. link i really got to say that answer was some really toe drag here that was some good stay you still got the hands man the hands don't go first uh kyle thanks so much for stopping by and talking to us

today really appreciate it enjoy the playoffs you got it thanks for having me enjoy the games