BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have traded their captain, Kyle Okposo to the Florida Panthers.
In exchange, the Sabres will get defenseman Calle Sjalin and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
News of trade came out on Friday, a few hours before the trade deadline.
Sjalin, 24, was with the Charlotte Checkers prior to the trade. He has three assists in 22 games this season. He has 11 points (5+6) in 61 career AHL games.
Sjalin was a fifth-round draft pick by the New York Rangers in 2017. He previously played for Leksands IF of the SHL, and was a former teammate of Sabres prospect Isak Rosen, according to the Sabres.
Okposo had been with the Sabres since 2016, when he signed with the Sabres as a free agent. Okposo had 19 goals, 26 assist in 65 games with the Sabres and he also played in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.
He was drafted in the first round, 7th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.
Okposo's career spans over the course of 17 NHL seasons, playing for both the Sabres and New York Islanders. He was honored by the Sabres earlier this season when he played his 1,000 NHL game.
He had signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract last year to stay with the Sabres.
On Wednesday, the Sabres traded forward Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche for Bowen Byram.
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