Kyle Okposo broke his silence to let fans know that he is finally healthy.
Months after Okposo's season was cut short due to an unknown injury that sent the Sabres forward into intensive care, he's back on the ice and has filled in the blanks regarding his status.
On March 27, the Sabres were in Sunrise to play the Florida Panthers. Okposo said he took a minor hit in practice but “brushed it off.” He played against Florida, logging just under 16 minutes of ice time.
But that game against the Panthers, the Sabres' 76th of the season, was Okposo's last. He missed the final six games of the season, was admitted into an intensive care unit, and specific details about his condition were scarce.
Okposo revealed in a letter he wrote for the Sabres website that he had sustained a concussion, and included the details on the events that followed that game in Florida.
But in the ensuing days, my mood began to change. I didn't notice, but the people around me did. By the time we were playing our game against Florida on March 27, I had been having trouble sleeping for a couple of days already. My senses for some reason were worsening with each passing day. I thought I was just overtired.
...
By the time that game was over, I had no appetite. I realized I was beginning to lose weight. Still, I got on the plane to Columbus with the mindset that I would play the following night.
When things only got worse the next day, I spoke with coach and made the decision to sit that one out. I thought some rest and time off would do the trick. But even then, things didn't improve. I went to the hospital hoping that they could find a way for me to get some sleep.
The medications they gave me to sleep caused a negative reaction in my body. I still couldn't sleep, and the weight loss continued at an alarming rate. At one point, I weighed less than 200 pounds. I haven't weighed that little since I was 17. Now, the initial thought was a possible concussion.
Okposo took a major step in his recovery when he took the ice July 19 for a game in Da Beauty League, a summer league based in Minnesota comprised of many NHL players.
Participating this year are the likes of Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk and Jake Gardiner, Winnipeg Jet Dustin Byfuglien, and Okposo's Buffalo teammate Zach Bogosian.
Okposo warms up! @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/LqJactqfTZ
— Alex McLean (@AlexMcLean6) July 20, 2017
The Sabres signed Okposo to a seven-year, $42 million contract before the 2016 season. Okposo recorded 45 points in 65 games with the Sabres including 19 goals.