Okposo Out Indefinately Facing Shoulder Surgery, Mike Mottau Signed

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/28/2010 03:37:00 PM | |


NHL.com: Reports the Islanders announced Tuesday that forward Kyle Okposo's ailing right shoulder will require surgery that will keep him out indefinitely. Defenseman Mike Mottau was signed to a two-year contract, with general manager Garth Snow's comments.

Islanders website: Announced lineups traveling to Saskatoon/Philadelphia subject to change.

NYIFC Comments:
Don't know what's going on but feels like 08-09 all over again with 582 man games lost. To lose Streit, now Okposo long-term frankly are two of the biggest losses this roster can absorb.

Unless there is a trade coming or more pending injuries on the backline it's very curious Mottau got a two year deal, which may not be a one-way contract.

Mottau was a seventy game player for New Jersey last year, he's obviously not any kind of fit to replace Mark Streit's offense.

Okposo out opens the door for Niederreiter's stay being extended, it may open the door for another winger in Bridgeport or necessitate a lateral move for a veteran off another team now. As written yesterday the players brought in on tryouts are to fill out rosters to ice minimum eight veterans for split squad games so for Ortmeyer, McAmmond, Legace ect it will likely end by Sunday.

So far Weight, Nielsen, Poulin, Lawson, Streit, Okposo, Figren and likely others are out, have lingering injuries/soreness/illness.

The loss of Okposo is huge, but the Islanders had to deal with some extended scoring slumps from Okposo last season when he was healthy, this is a chance for someone else to step in. After Moulson a year ago, anyone can step up.

Garth Snow has his hands full, but again this calls for a patient approach to find the right fits which could come from within, and a test of his management. Matt Martin, Jesse Joensuu, others have an opportunity now. Other teams have plenty of alternatives which they would be happy to unload, but for the next few days that does not seem the way to go.

I'm not sure a two year contract to a defender who can struggle at times is a patient approach. Mottau brings a physical game this backline lacks in Eaton vs Sutton, but I see this as the prelude to some kind of trade/transaction.

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