Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Josh Ho-Sang
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He's still just 23 years old, but Ho-Sang has become a disappointment to fantasy owners and the Islanders alike. He was receiving time in the top-six as a rookie in 2016-17, but he's managed to play just 53 NHL games over the last three seasons, and in those games he has just seven goals and 24 points. Last season, Ho-Sang had one goal and one assist in 10 appearances with the big club. The 2014 first-round pick didn't score much (8 goals) in the AHL, either, but he did accumulate 43 points behind 35 assists in 56 games with Bridgeport. It's time that Ho-Sang finally becomes an NHL regular, but because the Islanders have developed consistency on their top three lines, he's probably going to have to earn NHL playing time as a fourth-liner. That obviously deeply hurts his fantasy value.
The young winger is extremely talented, but Ho-Sang has yet to realize his full potential at the NHL level. He registered just two goals and 12 points in 22 games last year and played for AHL Bridgeport for the rest of the season after his Dec. 14 demotion. At rock bottom, he was a healthy scratch for a minor-league contest in January. Ho-Sang needs a fresh start, and fortunately, the 22-year-old will get such an opportunity with new coach Barry Trotz behind the bench. Even when he was playing for the Islanders, Ho-Sang averaged under 15 minutes per game, and that's generally not enough rink run to see a player take off. If Ho-Sang is back on track in training camp, expect Trotz to give the versatile skater ample playing time even as a third-line contributor, which in turn makes him an intriguing late-round flier in standard leagues.
Called up in early March last season, Ho-Sang proceeded to enjoy a solid 21-game debut with the Islanders that seems to have more or less locked him into a roster spot for the 2017-18 campaign. He put up four goals and 10 points while averaging 16:27 of ice time, though his shot total (22) isn't impressing anyone. Of course, he was also quite young, and the 21-year-old looked the part of a future star throughout his career in junior hockey, then debuted impressively with AHL Bridgeport (36 points in 50 games) before getting the call to the big leagues. A first-round pick by the Isles in 2014, Ho-Sang will probably spend much of the season on the club’s third line, though it wouldn't be surprising if he were to sneak his way into the top-six ranks at some point. His fantasy contributions will probably be relatively modest to start out, but the Torontonian forward has a bright future.
Ho-Sang has the talent to make an impact at the NHL level but his attitude and lack of maturity are the main reasons he fell to the end of the first-round in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. That maturity popped up again during training camp last season when he showed up late on the first day. The Islanders sent him a message by immediately sending back down to the OHL. To his credit however he worked hard and put up his best season to date too put him firmly back in the Islanders future plans. He won't break camp with the team in October but could make his NHL debut during the season should the need arise and will certainly be pushing for a spot on the team next season. What Ho-Sang does best is stick handle although that can also get him in trouble as he can hold onto the puck to long and that will get you in trouble at the pro level. His future is as a top nine forward.
The only reason Ho-Sang fell during the 2014 NHL Entry Draft was because of maturity and character issues, but those may be behind him now. He submitted a huge season at the OHL level, producing 17 goals and 64 assists in 60 games. Ho-Sang is a top-tier offensive talent that possesses all of the skills to be a top-six forward in the NHL. Does he need to learn to be a team player? Yes, but that should come in time as he rises through the system and plays with more skilled teammates. He’s a player to watch in keeper and dynasty leagues, but is unlikely to have a chance to make the Islanders until the 2016-17 season at the earliest.
Ho-Sang possesses one of the best skill sets of the 2014 draft class. So why did he slip to the Islanders at the 28th overall pick? The NHL struggles with larger-than-life personalities, instead demanding that those with charisma “tuck in.” Ho-Sang doesn’t tuck in. Not even close. He’s confident -- borderline cocky -- about his own skills, and arguably, rightfully so. He’s a magician with the puck, but like the Leafs’ Nazem Kadri, he tends to make one too many dips or doodles, ultimately losing the puck just inside the opponent’s blue line. While he’s not exactly abysmal in his own zone, it’s hard to call him average there, either. In the right system and with the right support, Ho-Sang could be a steal. And John Tavares could be just the guy to turn this hotshot into a star. Considering some of the alternatives, Long Island might actually represent one of the better landing spot for the enigmatic Ho-Sang.
