Sabres name Okposo captain

The Buffalo Sabres announced 34-year-old veteran Kyle Okposo as the 20th full-time captain in franchise history on Saturday.

Rasmus Dahlin and Zemgus Girgensons will serve as alternates.

Buffalo's captaincy has been vacant since Jack Eichel was stripped of the distinction last September. He was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in November.

Okposo is set to enter his seventh season with the Sabres after signing as a free agent in 2016. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign in 2021-22, tallying 21 goals and 24 assists in 74 games. He'll be an unrestricted free agent following the 2022-23 season.

"It's impossible to overstate what Kyle has meant to this group - he is patient, he is a lifelong learner, he is levelheaded, and most of all, he is proud to be a Buffalo Sabre," general manager Kevyn Adams said.

"When times get difficult, Kyle knows when to speak up, and when he does, the team takes it to heart. Kyle and his family have made Buffalo their home and want to see our organization succeed, both on and off the ice. I am proud that Kyle will represent our organization with class and dignity."

Girgensons, meanwhile, is the longest-tenured Sabre and will wear an "A" for the third straight season. Dahlin, the 2018 first overall pick, will serve as an alternate for the second consecutive campaign.