Let's wait to see if Okposo is able to break 25 goals again before we say for sure his career is on the way up.

Okposo over his career has scored .25 goals per game. Nash has scored .43 goals per game. Sorry if I'm not willing to write off Nash's entire career and claim Okposo is better based on ONE year (a year where Nash did better than Okposo btw...)
- rangerdanger94

I was serious when I said I was done with you.

I was serious when I said I was done with you.
- Isles_since_6

In no universe is kyle Okposo a better hockey player than Rick Nash. 5 more seasons of what Okposo did last year and some clutch playoff performances and we can revisit that

In no universe is kyle Okposo a better hockey player than Rick Nash. 5 more seasons of what Okposo did last year and some clutch playoff performances and we can revisit that
- Dan Petriw

Again, if you consider contracts, it makes the choice a bit tougher but I probably still go with Nash because he's a guaranteed 30 goals no matter who he plays with. Most of you would probably pick Okposo over Nash with the contract as a main reason but that would be similar to me saying I would pick McDonagh over Subban because of their contracts (which I have done and got ripped apart for).

In no universe is kyle Okposo a better hockey player than Rick Nash. 5 more seasons of what Okposo did last year and some clutch playoff performances and we can revisit that
- Dan Petriw

agreed...id much rather have RN than KO

Again, if you consider contracts, it makes the choice a bit tougher but I probably still go with Nash because he's a guaranteed 30 goals no matter who he plays with. Most of you would probably pick Okposo over Nash with the contract as a main reason but that would be similar to me saying I would pick McDonagh over Subban because of their contracts (which I have done and got ripped apart for).
- rangerdanger94

i think the convo is based on talent...leave all the business and age on the backburner; the evaluation is strictly from a talent level.

if the question is if im starting a team today with the age and contract in mind, then id take KO

Again, if you consider contracts, it makes the choice a bit tougher but I probably still go with Nash because he's a guaranteed 30 goals no matter who he plays with. Most of you would probably pick Okposo over Nash with the contract as a main reason but that would be similar to me saying I would pick McDonagh over Subban because of their contracts (which I have done and got ripped apart for).
- rangerdanger94

The cap ceiling is barely a dot on the horizon for the Isles, so contract wouldn't really be an issue, imo, as long as Nash is productive. I'd take Nash over Okposo any day. I actually think swapping Okposo for Nash on the first line would be like swapping Moulson for Vanek...a definite upgrade, but people would argue about whether it was a critical upgrade.

agreed...id much rather have RN than KO
- LetsGoIsles

I'd like to see KO in a meaningful playoff run. After seeing what I saw out of RN in the Ranger's run, well....it's hard to do worse. I will say Okposo looked great in the series against Pitt a couple of years back, but that is a very small sample to base an opinion. It can be argued that it was that series that was the springboard to what we saw all of last year out of Okposo.

i think the convo is based on talent...leave all the business and age on the backburner; the evaluation is strictly from a talent level.

if the question is if im starting a team today with the age and contract in mind, then id take KO
- LetsGoIsles

This is my argument. As far as Dan’s though, I don’t see Nash as that much better of a player. Maybe 2-3 years ago, when he was considered elite, but he’s not what I would consider an elite talent anymore. Has he done more in his career? Hell yes. Does this mean right at this stage he’s a better player than Okposo? I don’t think I agree. Top line winger? On almost any team he could play there, but with the contract, age and injuries…I’d take Okposo if it was based on building a team. If KO repeats the season he just had, I would put him above Nash. I think he brings more to the table at this point in both their careers, especially when age, contract, injury history is all factored in.

I do not see Nash as elite, neither is KO. There’s more upside to having Okposo than there is to Nash at this time. My 2 cents, I’m sure it won’t be a popular opinion.

This is my argument. As far as Dan’s though, I don’t see Nash as that much better of a player. Maybe 2-3 years ago, when he was considered elite, but he’s not what I would consider an elite talent anymore. Has he done more in his career? Hell yes. Does this mean right at this stage he’s a better player than Okposo? I don’t think I agree. Top line winger? On almost any team he could play there, but with the contract, age and injuries…I’d take Okposo if it was based on building a team. If KO repeats the season he just had, I would put him above Nash. I think he brings more to the table at this point in both their careers, especially when age, contract, injury history is all factored in.

I do not see Nash as elite, neither is KO. There’s more upside to having Okposo than there is to Nash at this time. My 2 cents, I’m sure it won’t be a popular opinion.
- Isles_since_6

Nash isn't exactly old and what if Nash scores 40 goals this year with MSL on his line? Would you still take Okposo's 27 goals if he has a repeat season? Contract I give you but Nash is only signed for 4 more years so it's not like a Luongo or Hossa deal and Okposo is only a bargain for 2 more years. If he does end up performing well, he will be looking for $6M plus in 2016.

Nash isn't exactly old and what if Nash scores 40 goals this year with MSL on his line? Would you still take Okposo's 27 goals if he has a repeat season? Contract I give you but Nash is only signed for 4 more years so it's not like a Luongo or Hossa deal and Okposo is only a bargain for 2 more years. If he does end up performing well, he will be looking for $6M plus in 2016.
- rangerdanger94

I don't believe Okposo has hit his ceiling and he still produced at a higher ppg rate than Nash after JT was injured. I'm not saying Nash isn't a great player, but 30 goals and 60 points isn't an upgrade over Okposo to me. Neither is elite, but Okposo spent most of the year in the top 10-15 scorers in the league.

I don't believe Okposo has hit his ceiling and he still produced at a higher ppg rate than Nash after JT was injured. I'm not saying Nash isn't a great player, but 30 goals and 60 points isn't an upgrade over Okposo to me. Neither is elite, but Okposo spent most of the year in the top 10-15 scorers in the league.
- Isles_since_6

Yea I agree man Nash didn't cut it last year but again, I just think it's shortsighted to pick just one year. No doubt Okposo was the better overall player than Nash last year and he might've outscored Nash in terms of PPG but Nash's job is to strictly score goals. He's not really an assist-getter. But he's money for at least 30 goals with MSL and a (hopefully) more consistent Stepan, he could reach 40 realistically.

Again, it's just one year. It's like when Fowler had a stellar rookie season and everyone was all over him and then regressed the following 2 seasons. Last summer people were calling him a bust that would barely play on the 3rd pairing. Then he has an All-Star worthy season and now he's the next big thing again. Or how Detroit fans basically booked Filppula's ticket out of town and were celebrating because he struggled his final year and now are upset because Filppula had one of the best years of his entire career last year.

Yea I agree man Nash didn't cut it last year but again, I just think it's shortsighted to pick just one year. No doubt Okposo was the better overall player than Nash last year and he might've outscored Nash in terms of PPG but Nash's job is to strictly score goals. He's not really an assist-getter. But he's money for at least 30 goals with MSL and a (hopefully) more consistent Stepan, he could reach 40 realistically.

Again, it's just one year. It's like when Fowler had a stellar rookie season and everyone was all over him and then regressed the following 2 seasons. Last summer people were calling him a bust that would barely play on the 3rd pairing. Then he has an All-Star worthy season and now he's the next big thing again. Or how Detroit fans basically booked Filppula's ticket out of town and were celebrating because he struggled his final year and now are upset because Filppula had one of the best years of his entire career last year.
- rangerdanger94

I can agree with that, maybe it’s a slight bias but I’d still pick the better all around player who looks like he could still get better. Nash is a great player, I’m not suggesting he isn’t but I would still take Okposo. Granted if Kyle can’t repeat or build on last year then it’s clearly not even a discussion.

In no universe is kyle Okposo a better hockey player than Rick Nash. 5 more seasons of what Okposo did last year and some clutch playoff performances and we can revisit that
- Dan Petriw

But you can say he had the better season last season.

Are we seriously thinking a quickly depreciating at just 30 yrs old Nash right now is better than a rising 26 year old in KO? I'd watch Nash more closely bc right now slowing down. KO filling his role incredibly. Whether one career better than other seems silly bc Okposo is 4 yrs behind but if you think Nash is still elite....

All you have to do is talk to a NY ranger fan.

Are we seriously thinking a quickly depreciating at just 30 yrs old Nash right now is better than a rising 26 year old in KO? I'd watch Nash more closely bc right now slowing down. KO filling his role incredibly. Whether one career better than other seems silly bc Okposo is 4 yrs behind but if you think Nash is still elite....

All you have to do is talk to a NY ranger fan.
- B.D. Gallof

I agree with this. still likely the unpopular opinion, but I still take Okposo regardless of whether this was one season. I see him doing it again now that he's figured it out.

Are we seriously thinking a quickly depreciating at just 30 yrs old Nash right now is better than a rising 26 year old in KO? I'd watch Nash more closely bc right now slowing down. KO filling his role incredibly. Whether one career better than other seems silly bc Okposo is 4 yrs behind but if you think Nash is still elite....

All you have to do is talk to a NY ranger fan.
- B.D. Gallof

No one in islander country is calling Nash Elite, or is calling Okoposo Elite.

So u might be on the wrong message board to discuss Nash .....

Agree to disagree

My original post about how your defense needs to tighten up in front of Halak in order to get out of the basement in GA rankings stands. I dont wanna get into another nash vs okposo vs jt vs stepan rangers vs islanders piss match atm.
- rangerdanger94

Was there even a discussion on Stepan vs Tavares???

Cmonnnnn mannnn

Was there even a discussion on Stepan vs Tavares???

Cmonnnnn mannnn
- kindlyrick

I didn't even touch that one. Flat out stupid.

In no universe is kyle Okposo a better hockey player than Rick Nash. 5 more seasons of what Okposo did last year and some clutch playoff performances and we can revisit that
- Dan Petriw

Apples and Oranges. Rick Nash dangles one on one. Okposo's heart is why he is where he is. Nash has more talent, but it's heart that buries the biscuit when you're tired and hurt in the playoffs....and I didn't see much of that from Nash last season when it mattered.

Lets face it, if Sather didn't trade Callahan for St. Louis, the rangers don't go as far as they did. St Louis basically took over in the post season. It certainly wasnt Nash

Who would you take Stepan or JT? Nash or okposo? Be honest.
- Cptmjl

JT > Stepan
Nash > Okposo

This is just based on talent. But of the pairings, I'm taking JT and KO over Nash and Stepan. Not because I'm an isles fan, I just think JT and KO have a good combination of skill, grit and heart. Nash and Stepan are all skill.

Kreider vs KO would be a really tough choice.
- rangerdanger94

You gotta have a guy playing with your star who is willing to go to battle for him. Can you say Kreider has that ability? Okposo has shown this past year and change that he can flip the switch and go if need be. That's a big factor when playing with a top player in the league who gets cheap shots game in and game out.

Let's wait to see if Okposo is able to break 25 goals again before we say for sure his career is on the way up.

Okposo over his career has scored .25 goals per game. Nash has scored .43 goals per game. Sorry if I'm not willing to write off Nash's entire career and claim Okposo is better based on ONE year (a year where Nash did better than Okposo btw...)
- rangerdanger94

Nash is an elite player skill wise in my opinion. You can't compare Nash and Okposo. Totally different players and roles.

Sidenote. Who cares about contracts.......Nash is a more skilled hockey player than okposo.

Better goaltending than the Rangers, better defense than the Kings, better offense than the Blackhawks, and a Battle Level that's well into The Cappy Zone. The only way this doesn't happen is if some underhanded villain sweeps Josh Bailey's leg.
- UIF

Those damn Cobra Kai!!!

XxNYIxX

Again, if you consider contracts, it makes the choice a bit tougher but I probably still go with Nash because he's a guaranteed 30 goals no matter who he plays with. Most of you would probably pick Okposo over Nash with the contract as a main reason but that would be similar to me saying I would pick McDonagh over Subban because of their contracts (which I have done and got ripped apart for).
- rangerdanger94

Racist!

XxNYIxX