Sabers captain Kyle Okposo will become the 384th player in history to reach 1,000 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) when he takes the ice against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night in Buffalo.
The seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft, that of the New York Islanders, will also be the 33rd active player to achieve this feat. In 999 duels so far, the 35-year-old veteran has collected 230 goals and 595 points.
The American will become the second player to play his 1,000th game in the 2023-2024 season, after Ryan O’Reilly did the same with the Nashville Predators on October 31.
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Here are six players who could soon add a fourth number to their Games Played column:
Cal Clutterbuck – 995 games
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The 35-year-old forward has been an outstanding support player for the New York Islanders for a decade. Clutterbuck has faced being left out several times in recent years, but he’s still closing in on the 1,000-game mark. The Ontario native, who was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Wild in 2006, is a hockey player who has always improved his game in the playoffs. In the regular season he has 279 points, including 138 goals.
Marc-André Fleury – 993 games
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The Quebec goalie has had an impressive track record since being selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003. The Sorel-Tracy native won three Stanley Cups and a Vezina Trophy in his final season with the Vegas Golden Knights. Now he’s chasing two brands with the Wild. First, he could become the fourth Cerberus in history to play 1000 games. Fleury (547) is also trying to surpass the 551 wins of Patrick Roy, who ranks second all-time in that regard.
Victor Hedman – 989 games
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The 32-year-old Swede is still in top form despite the passing years, as evidenced by his average usage time of 24 minutes and 10 seconds in 2023-2024. The 6-foot-2 defender has amassed 146 goals and 669 points since debuting on the Bettman circuit in 2009. He represents a safe bet in the defensive team of the Tampa Bay Lightning, for whom he initially played his entire career. Hedman won two Stanley Cups with the Bolts.
Matt Duchene – 989 games
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Duchene’s journey has been turbulent so far, but with 755 points he is doing very well. Despite winning several competitions at the international level, including Olympic gold in Sochi, the Ontario native is still hoping for his first Stanley Cup conquest. The 32-year-old forward has played for the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators and is in his first season with the Dallas Stars.
TJ Oshie – 971 games
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TJ Oshie is one of the best active players to come through the American university networks. Although he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2005, he spent three seasons at the University of North Dakota before coming to the NHL. With impressive consistency over the years, the right winger has become one of Alexander Ovechkin’s regular accomplices for the Washington Capitals. He took the opportunity to score 290 goals and collect 671 points, and he also lifted the large silver bowl once.
Lars Eller – 967 games
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After entering his 15th NHL season this fall, Eller continues to be a quiet force wherever he goes. The Dane has never surpassed the 40-point plateau in a season, but his intelligence on the ice allowed him to last a long time. The former Montreal Canadiens is now a member of the Penguins after spending time with the Colorado Avalanche, Blues and Capitals. He won the 2018 Cup with Oshie.