Three Days After Losing Streit for Season, Isles Lose Okposo Until December

The New York Islanders just can't catch a break. The preseason games haven't even started yet and they are already missing arguably their two most important players. Three days after top defenseman Mark Streit suffered a left shoulder injury that will likely sideline him for six months, the Islanders announced Tuesday that forward Kyle Okposo is out indefinitely with an injured right shoulder that requires surgery.

According to a source, Okposo suffered a torn labrum and is expected to miss two to three months.

Okposo, who recently visited a shoulder specialist, has not practiced since suffering the injury Thursday. It is believed the injury occurred when Okposo extended his arm to reach back for a puck during the team's intrasquad special-teams scrimmage.

Like Streit, Okposo will seek a second opinion with shoulder specialist Dr. Anthony Miniaci of the Cleveland Clinic before deciding on surgery.

"Kyle has a big role on our team and whenever you're in a situation where you lose a player like Kyle, it's going to have an effect on the team," general manager Garth Snow said. "That being said, this is an opportunity for younger players to step in and play a bigger role, much like with Mark."

With both Okposo and Streit slated to miss significant time, the Islanders have seen two of their best players fall to injury even before they play their first preseason game.

"Make no mistake about it, they are big losses," Snow said. "On the flip side, if we can get out to a good start and play as a team and accumulate points through the first half of the season, it's going to be a big bonus for our club when Kyle and Mark do come back at some point."

Okposo, who had 19 goals and 33 assists in 80 games last season, finished second on the team in scoring behind rookie John Tavares and led the Islanders' forwards in ice time. Along with Streit, Okposo was also one of the team's four alternate captains last season.

Despite the monumental blows the Islanders have suffered this week, Snow said the team's goal remains the same.

"For us, it doesn't change our mind-set," Snow said. "We need to go out and win hockey games. This is a great opportunity for other players to win ice time."

Now in response to the lack of depth as a result of these two big injuries, the Islanders signed 32-year-old defenseman Mike Mottau to a two-year, one-way deal worth $1.6 million. Mottau, who played the past three seasons with the Devils, had two goals and 16 assists for New Jersey last season. "Mike was a player we had interest in back in July," Snow said. "We think very highly of Mike. He's a good puck mover, he has a physical element to his game and is a solid all-around defenseman."

The Islanders are in big trouble. In my opinion, they didn't have enough fire power with Okposo and Streit in the every day line-up, and now that they are out for extended periods of time, this team might very well struggle to stay alive. Sure they have great young prospects, but that's exactly what they are right now, great young prospects.

You can't replace the leadership and point production that came from Streit and Okposo, two alternate captains, and now the Islanders might have to look to the waiver wire, free agent market, or trade market to fill those two gaps.

Or maybe they fill Okposo's spot from within. Maybe this mean that first round pick Nino Niederreiter will be guaranteed a spot in the every day line-up. Maybe this opens up an opportunity for David Ullstrom, Matt Martin or Jesse Joensuu to earn their spots in the line-up permanently.

I guess that's what training camp is for though, fellas. We'll find out who's going to step up for the Islanders, or will it be another long season only to be rewarded with another top five pick? We'll see.