The Stanley Cup final last year was an exciting affair. Then, the 36-year-old Kyle Okposo was in the final season of his career, hoping to go out on a high note with the Panthers. And the team delivered—dramatically lifting the Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in the championship clash. It was a dream come true for the American veteran, who captured his first Stanley Cup in what turned out to be his farewell campaign. Nearly a year after that unforgettable moment, Okposo is back in the league—this time in a new role.

Now 37, he has joined the NHL Players’ Association after officially retiring from a career that saw him score 242 goals and record 372 assists over 1,051 games. While his role with the Panthers last season was limited, his key contributions proved pivotal in their title run. He now steps into the position of business development and player engagement adviser for the NHLPA.

Okposo has long been known for the positive energy he brought to the locker room—something coaches always appreciated. It’s a trait he’s expected to carry into his new role as well. Speaking about the next chapter in his career, Okposo shared, “I knew that I wanted to stay in the game. I love it. It’s given me everything that I’ve had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it, and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.”

Throughout his career, Okposo has been a dynamic personality, and the positivity has been seen in his performances on the ice. Thus, Okposo was a natural choice for the Players’ Association, and his experience would greatly help to address the issues of the players.

The Players’ Association has a strong history of bringing in freshly retired players into its fold. This helps the body to address the issues of the players much more effectively, something which Okposo noted while signing up for this role. Further, he also went on to reveal how his contribution would help the Players’ Association.

Kyle Okposo wants to add another dimension to the NHL

Okposo made his NHL debut in 2008 and spent more than a decade and a half in the league. Over that time, he built strong relationships with many players—something that’s expected to be a big asset in his new role. He also shared how he plans to contribute in this next chapter.

“Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,” Okposo explained. “For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we’re in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.”

Okposo had already played an important part behind the scenes, serving on the search committee formed in 2022 to find a new executive director. Alongside him, chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo and communications and media relations manager Stephanie Maniago have also joined the Players’ Association in new roles.

With Okposo now officially part of the PA, players can look forward to more engaging and dynamic involvement—both on and off the ice.