With the NHL season just about over, and the playoffs, for the most part, out of reach, the New York Islanders have chosen the game on Tuesday night, March 18, 2008, against the Toronto Maple Leafs to be Kyle Okposo's debut.

Okposo, the seventh player chosen in the 2006 NHL rookie draft, is said to possess a wealth of potential in terms of skill, and it is widely believed to be the first "Blue-Chip" prospect the Islanders have drafted in quite some time. He is currently playing for New York's minor league affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Earlier this year, Okposo made the decision to leave the University of Minnesota hockey team to turn professional. The move prompted a firestorm of criticism towards the Islanders, who were accused by the university and their fans of pilfering from the Gopher's hockey program for their own selfish benefit.

New York's stance was that Okposo wasn't being properly developed at the collegiate level and, therefore, it was in his best interests to play in the American Hockey League.

Judging by his performance thus far with the Sound Tigers, Okposo is continuing his upward trajectory for developing as a player. However, there is quite a bit of doubt as to whether or not he is ready to compete in the NHL. Many are viewing his promotion as merely a marketing ploy by the Islanders to placate its fans, who have been irate over the club's inability to make the postseason.

While there is a certain amount of truth in what the naysayers are saying, a taste of the big leagues could be quite beneficial for Okposo. If anything, it could be a nice reality check. He has been anointed "The Savior" by so many Islanders fans, perhaps he might believe he is better than he is right now. If he sees NHL action up close, he may realize that he still has much work to do before he reaches his potential.

In any case, it should be an exciting night for the Islanders fans to glimpse what the future might hold.