Isles sign Okposo to five-year extension

UNIONDALE, N.Y., May 25 (UPI) -- The New York Islanders said Wednesday they have signed forward Kyle Okposo a five-year contract extension.

The Islanders took Okposo, 23, with the seventh overall choice in the 2006 NHL draft and the St. Paul, Minn., native has tallied 44 goals and 116 points in 192 career games.

He missed the first 44 contests of the 2010-11 season with a shoulder injury sustained during training camp and returned to rack up five goals and 15 assists in 38 games.

"Kyle has been a critical part of our young core over the past few seasons," Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. "He is a high character guy that brings size and a scoring touch to our lineup."

"I'm very excited to commit to the Islanders for the next five years, especially with the news of the new Coliseum," Okposo said. "This team really showed its potential in the second half of the season last year and I'm excited to be a part of getting the franchise back to the playoffs."

Nassau County. N.Y., residents will vote in an Aug. 1 referendum on whether to authorize the issuance of $400 million in bonds to replace the aging Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.