This has been brewing for years now, but Josh Ho-Sang is going to be leaving the Islanders...the only difference now is he has requested a trade...Will anyone out there take a chance on Josh?
After all, Ho-Sang has had chances on the Island and it simply hasn't worked. His cap hit is only 874K and only for this season. And he is willing to go to an AHL team to prove himself...but why is Ho-Sang such a controversial figure and why all this talk about a guy who hasn't made an NHL impact at all?
First off....Ho-Sang has an "it" factor..a skill level that is hard to just ignore. His skills are undeniable. And for that reason he was a first-round pick, 5th overall, in the OHL draft for the Spitfires and also a first-round pick, 28th overall for the Islanders.
However, in the OHL he was suspended for 15 games for an illegal hit and then when he was late for day 1 of Islanders camp he was sent back to the OHL. In the OHL he put up some massive points, mostly as a play maker. One season he had 63 assists in 66 games for Niagara..
In the NHL he has played in parts of three seasons... 53 games 7-17-24points...And he looks good out there...but off the ice, he tends to shoot himself in the foot...Last year Ho-Sang sparked controversy taking the #66...Mario fans were none too pleased...and such a move was no doubt bold for a player who was seen as underachieving...
Who might be interested?
Last week Ho-Sang passed through waivers, but all that tells you is no team was willing to just take on the whole salary...So they will be looking for the Isles to either take back some money or keep some salary..again...only 874K...
Teams I have heard with interest are...The Canadiens, Oilers, Jets, and Ducks...But this is Lou Lamoriello here....Lou won't be taken and my bet would be he will throw Ho-Sang into a much bigger trade...The Islanders are very high on the trade meter right now (more on that in tomorrow's blog) ..Lots of folks saying the Isles are still not finished...
What do you think?
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