The New York Islanders and Kyle Okposo have agreed to a five-year deal.
“I’m very excited to commit to the Islanders for the next five years, especially with the news of the new Coliseum,” Okposo said in a statement.
“This team really showed its potential in the second half of the season last year and I’m excited to be a part of getting the franchise back to the playoffs.”
The 23-year-old missed the first 44 games this season due to an injury, and ended the season with five goals and 15 assists in 38 games.
The Islanders announced the deal on Wednesday.
“Kyle has been a critical part of our young core over the past few seasons,” said Islanders general manager Garth Snow in a statement.
Snow added: “He is a high character guy that brings size and a scoring touch to our lineup.”
Ken Campbell of The Hockey News reported that the deal is worth $14 million.
Okposo’s signing comes a day after supporters of the plan to build a new Nassau Coliseum poured into the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative and Executive Building in Mineola on Tuesday.
Legislators held a public hearing on a proposal to hold a referendum asking taxpayer approval for $400 million in county borrowing to replace the aging Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and build a new minor league baseball park in Uniondale.
The Islanders selected Okposo with the seventh pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.
