Okposo Concussed

In the second period of last night's Islanders/Flames game, Kyle Okposo got crunched with an open-ice hit by Dion Phaneuf, which ended his night in a flash. Okposo had to be stretchered off the ice and this morning has been listed as out with a concussion.


The concussion tag will keep Okposo off the ice for at least a week, as the team will await results from tests after his seven days are up. The team said the concussion was mild, so he could be back anywhere between one week and three.

The hit was a brutal one, to say the least. Okposo did get clipped and was off-balance when Phaneuf ran over him. I would have to think that if Okposo was in a less vulnerable position, he probably would have given some force back to Phaneuf.

Nevertheless, this injury will drop Okposo's stock for the coming season, as there is no guarantee that his head will come down from the foggy skies of the concussion. Since draft day is only a week and a half away, I would rather be safe than sorry, in picking Okposo. He'll still have a chance at making my team, but it'll be a long shot, as I think someone else will pick him before I get a shot at my ranking of him.