'I wanted to stay in the game': Kyle Okposo makes post-retirement leap, joins NHL Players' Association in strategic leadership role
Kyle Okposo (via Getty Images)
Months after claiming the
Stanley Cup
with the
Florida Panthers
and announcing his professional
hockey retirement
in September 2024,
Kyle Okposo
is already guiding the future of the sport from a very different vantage point. The veteran NHL winger, who suited up more than 1,000 times in his 17 seasons in the league, has officially signed on with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) as a business development and player engagement adviser.
Kyle Okposo brings leadership experience and player perspective to NHLPA
Kyle Okposo's switch from the ice to an executive advisory position comes as part of a strategic hire announcement by the NHLPA, which also welcomed
Steve Scebelo
to serve as chief commercial officer and Stephanie Maniago as manager of communications and media relations. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone this week. '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.'
A bridge between past and present players
At 37, Kyle Okposo will be a key bridge between active players and the leadership of the union. His new connections with active athletes and outside perspective as someone who just recently left the ice make him an ideal communicator and innovator for player outreach.
'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 said. '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.'
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He comes aboard a leadership group under
Marty Walsh
and assistant executive director
Ron Hainsey
, both of whom appreciate Okposo's combination of player trust, executive experience, and business acumen.
NHLPA looks to new opportunities under new leadership
In addition to Okposo, Steve Scebelo's hiring adds significant background from the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), where he managed the licensing program. Scebelo gave the impression of possible innovations in the NHLPA's commercial programs, including collaborations with start-ups and sport-related companies linked to the grassroots of the sport.
Also read:
Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up: May 2 game times revealed
Kyle Okposo might have shut the door on his NHL playing days, but his next chapter is set to be just as significant. His transition into
NHLPA leadership
is the start of a meaningful post-playing career—one founded in advocacy, innovation, and connection. Supported by influencers such as Marty Walsh and Ron Hainsey, Okposo is redrawing the lines on what it means to lead from the locker room and beyond.
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