Try this mirror ....


- JohnScammo

Other than raw physical ability -- which, agreed, Ho-Sang definitely has -- I don't think they, or the mistakes they make, are even in the same galaxy. The reason Ho-Sang is "obviously on a much shorter leash" than Barzal isn't some strange twist of fate. It's because one player thinks and plays the game on a whole other level, is highly aware of his surroundings, constantly tries to improve, makes plays that are not just impressive but also drive team success, and is still coachable despite having worlds of both confidence and ability.

The other player thinks he has all those things, says he has all those things, and appears to have many of those things if you look from far enough away, but he really only has bits and pieces of those attributes, and they're put together in such a way that make him impressive as an individual, but a 22+1 roster player.

Even if Ho-Sang genuinely wants to be a different and better player now, I don't think he can be. I think that ship has sailed, and it probably sailed years before he was even drafted.
- UIF

This is not a fair assessment... JHS is not a kid who Hangs and doesn't play defense, or never passes. He is the opposite of that.. he passes too much, and doesn't shoot enough. His issues are related to giving up the puck at the blue line trying to do too much.. and being a little bit of a space cadet when coaches are talking. He's immature.. not selfish "22 + 1" .

" Really good kid, Works hard, been through a lot to get here.... Really good guy, misunderstood a lot, unbelievable player back when we were younger.." Conor McDavid on JHS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fnLOEyRx2Y

You're probably right, but I still hold out hope like nite that he can amount to SOMETHING. As the Post article indicates, the Isles' cap issues could help him get back to the NHL, where there's a slight chance that he impresses like he did when he first got called up a few years ago.
- JohnScammo

He is too talented to not make it if he wants it ... This coaching staff got OV to play the right way. I am sure they can get JHS on board. He has hit rock bottom and will do whatever they ask at this point .. you would think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9Nffx9clg here is a solid break down of his time in the NHL. certainly doesn't look like he was a 22 +1 player. Back-checking, passing, etc.

You're probably right, but I still hold out hope like nite that he can amount to SOMETHING. As the Post article indicates, the Isles' cap issues could help him get back to the NHL, where there's a slight chance that he impresses like he did when he first got called up a few years ago.
- JohnScammo

Hey, I hope nite's right and he becomes a Grade A talent that fits the team model. They could certainly use another dynamic player on offense; especially a cheap one.

Just my guess, but out of the BPort forwards, I think we'd see Wahlstrom, Koivula, those two guys they just signed recently, and maybe even PED Bellows crack the Isles' roster before Ho-Sang...unless all those guys fall completely flat and Ho-Sang massacres expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9Nffx9clg here is a solid break down of his time in the NHL. certainly doesn't look like he was a 22 +1 player. Back-checking, passing, etc.
- niteislander

If you can watch this clip and not see why some people don't want to give up on Josh then you are just not being honest.

If you can watch this clip and not see why some people don't want to give up on Josh then you are just not being honest.
- niteislander

The kid has talent 100% but that's not all you need to be a complete NHL Pro. His AHL numbers aren't that impressive for "elite" talent imho. The reputation that he has is no ones fault but his own. Numerous people have said that with JHS it's all about him and he is un coachable. He was passed on when it came to The WJC for team Canada 2 times, Why?
My opinion is that the reputation surrounding him is deserved and sometimes its what's in-between a players ears that just out weighs what talent he possesses.
There are plenty of Clips of players in Jrs and other developmental leagues around the world of sick moves and goals who never touch NHL ice.
If Josh can grow up, get over himself and not blame everyone else for his faults and realize its about the team, then I think he has a shot. But a long one imho.
Reading what he said about the new contract, working hard and thanking the NY Islanders is the first step. He just needs to continue to show that in his actions on and off the ice and he may just get another shot.
Balls in JHS court.

A lot of guys on here gave up on an awful lot of players who turned their game around. We all hated Pelech, Brock, and even Okposo until he finally got it. I don't really care if JHS doesn't make it, but if he does I want it to be as an Islander. After listening to the NHL network guys talk about HOW good he was at 15 it just reinforced my thoughts on it.... He HAS ELITE talent.

I have said it before but this kid's issues are not anything that's unfixable. He isn't a drug attic, a drunk, or a guy who is a doosh to women or kids. He's just immature. Hopefully he grows up.
- niteislander

I appreciate your optimism and god knows we could use some cheap, offensive, help but if you think personality issues are easy to fix I’ll say that’s far from the case. People don’t change and he’s not really a “kid” anymore in an NHL player sense besides I’ll also say he’s so head strong in a bad way I don’t see it as fixable. He’s not a “space cadet” he comes off like an arrogant douche. There’s a difference. I can see he has some talent but you speak of him like it’s other worldly and I just don’t see it. I hope you make me eat my words but that kid will never do anything more then piss off the coaching staff and Islander fans some more next season imo.

If you can watch this clip and not see why some people don't want to give up on Josh then you are just not being honest.
- niteislander

Like I said, if you look from far enough away, he appears to almost have it all. Based solely on that video, you'd think you really did have another Barzal there. But I'm not sure five minutes of a YouTube clip prove everyone wrong, or anything at all.

I don't know the guy, so it's just my guess based on what we've all seen...but beyond the raw skill, you have a player who seems to take lessons to heart for a little while before falling back on old habits and needing another round of the same lessons. There's no steady progression; just a cycle. And I don't think it's because he's a selfish or bad person. I think he means it when he says he's "ready to give everything," just like I think he meant it when he's said similar things every year before, going back to juniors. I think he just can't get out of his own way. His habits are so ingrained in who he is that I doubt he can just turn it off and change at this point.

But, hell, I'm no psychologist, so maybe I'm wrong and this new, new, new, new, new Josh Ho-Sang will be the real deal.

Hey, I hope nite's right and he becomes a Grade A talent that fits the team model. They could certainly use another dynamic player on offense; especially a cheap one.

Just my guess, but out of the BPort forwards, I think we'd see Wahlstrom, Koivula, those two guys they just signed recently, and maybe even PED Bellows crack the Isles' roster before Ho-Sang...unless all those guys fall completely flat and Ho-Sang massacres expectations.
- UIF

Agreed.

Like I said, if you look from far enough away, he appears to almost have it all. Based solely on that video, you'd think you really did have another Barzal there. But I'm not sure five minutes of a YouTube clip prove everyone wrong, or anything at all.

I don't know the guy, so it's just my guess based on what we've all seen...but beyond the raw skill, you have a player who seems to take lessons to heart for a little while before falling back on old habits and needing another round of the same lessons. There's no steady progression; just a cycle. And I don't think it's because he's a selfish or bad person. I think he means it when he says he's "ready to give everything," just like I think he meant it when he's said similar things every year before, going back to juniors. I think he just can't get out of his own way. His habits are so ingrained in who he is that I doubt he can just turn it off and change at this point.

But, hell, I'm no psychologist, so maybe I'm wrong and this new, new, new, new, new Josh Ho-Sang will be the real deal.
- UIF

Josh Ho-Sang 10.0 - just like every other version of Josh Ho-Sang but he hopes you believe him anyway when he says this time will be different.

I read all your comments and you guys are probably correct. I have met the kid a few times with my son at hockey and I thought he was a good kid. I love watching him skate.. and am going to hope he gets a shot and does the most with it. He's 24 so this is probably his last shot at doing it... we'll see.

Josh Ho-Sang 10.0 - just like every other version of Josh Ho-Sang but he hopes you believe him anyway when he says this time will be different.
- JimmyP

Ironically, last year he really did everything right and they said it was tough to send him down. If he had of just STFU and went to b-port and played hard he would have been the first call up. Instead, he had a temper tantrum... was incredibly foolish.

I appreciate your optimism and god knows we could use some cheap, offensive, help but if you think personality issues are easy to fix I’ll say that’s far from the case. People don’t change and he’s not really a “kid” anymore in an NHL player sense besides I’ll also say he’s so head strong in a bad way I don’t see it as fixable. He’s not a “space cadet” he comes off like an arrogant douche. There’s a difference. I can see he has some talent but you speak of him like it’s other worldly and I just don’t see it. I hope you make me eat my words but that kid will never do anything more then piss off the coaching staff and Islander fans some more next season imo.
- Cptmjl

I agree with most of this, except the bold. I guess one man's space cadet is the next man's arrogant douche. But everything I've read about the guy, including from nite who has actually met him, makes me think you're wrong.

I read all your comments and you guys are probably correct. I have met the kid a few times with my son at hockey and I thought he was a good kid. I love watching him skate.. and am going to hope he gets a shot and does the most with it. He's 24 so this is probably his last shot at doing it... we'll see.
- niteislander

I'm sure he's a nice enough guy and he's certainly not lacking in the talent department. His issue seems to be that he believes he can help the team best by doing what he deems to be the right thing and not adhering to what the coaching staff wants him to do. His intentions are good, they're just way off the mark of what's going to be acceptable (on any team, but especially on this one).

Given everything that's gone on up to this point I just don't see him fitting the mold of the kind of player Trotz is comfortable putting out on the ice every night and I have my doubts that he wants to toil away in the minors here.

I don't think anyone is debating his skill level with you, we all know he's a talented player, but by this point I'm just assuming that ship has sailed. We could certainly use a talented player on a cheap contract, so I hope like hell something happens and he can work it out with the Islanders...but I'm not holding my breath.

I agree with most of this, except the bold. I guess one man's space cadet is the next man's arrogant douche. But everything I've read about the guy, including from nite who has actually met him, makes me think you're wrong.
- JohnScammo

Yeah I’ve never met him but when you say things like you should’ve gone first overall (when very clearly you shouldn’t have), clearly don’t take direction from others because you think you’re that special of a player, and countless other things to me it’s arrogance with nothing to back it up. That’s how it looks to me.

Yeah I’ve never met him but when you say things like you should’ve gone first overall (when very clearly you shouldn’t have), clearly don’t take direction from others because you think you’re that special of a player, and countless other things to me it’s arrogance with nothing to back it up. That’s how it looks to me.
- Cptmjl

Yeah, in all seriousness, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Part space cadet, part overconfidence approaching arrogance. I think Ben should interview him for his next blog.

Ironically, last year he really did everything right and they said it was tough to send him down. If he had of just STFU and went to b-port and played hard he would have been the first call up. Instead, he had a temper tantrum... was incredibly foolish.
- niteislander

That's the thing with JHS. He looks like he's on track, he says the right things, then he implodes. Like most on here I hope you are right and I am wrong. However it feels like Einstein's definition of insanity hoping JSH will finally get it.

I can't remember how many times I've said "Well, maybe that will wake him up!" only to be proven wrong again and again. This is probably his last chance, and my money is on him screwing it up - again.

Yeah, in all seriousness, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Part space cadet, part overconfidence approaching arrogance. I think Ben should interview him for his next blog.
- JohnScammo

I lost interest in this kid a long time ago and gave up any hope of him turning out. I honestly have no idea why anyone thinks he has even a remote chance of being an NHL regular when he was crap even in the AHL? People get to hung up on players that overplay and then give up the puck. I don’t see this amazing talent I see an extremely, incomplete, overrated player by some with an attitude problem

I don’t see a kid that’s oozing talent and I have no idea why we’re even still talking about him?

That's the thing with JHS. He looks like he's on track, he says the right things, then he implodes. Like most on here I hope you are right and I am wrong. However it feels like Einstein's definition of insanity hoping JSH will finally get it.

I can't remember how many times I've said "Well, maybe that will wake him up!" only to be proven wrong again and again. This is probably his last chance, and my money is on him screwing it up - again.
- JimmyP

Oh you’ll win that bet

I lost interest in this kid a long time ago and gave up any hope of him turning out. I honestly have no idea why anyone thinks he has even a remote chance of being an NHL regular when he was crap even in the AHL? People get to hung up on players that overplay and then give up the puck. I don’t see this amazing talent I see an extremely, incomplete, overrated player by some with an attitude problem

I don’t see a kid that’s oozing talent and I have no idea why we’re even still talking about him?
- Cptmjl

Covid boredom

Yeah I’ve never met him but when you say things like you should’ve gone first overall (when very clearly you shouldn’t have), clearly don’t take direction from others because you think you’re that special of a player, and countless other things to me it’s arrogance with nothing to back it up. That’s how it looks to me.
- Cptmjl

The guy's roommate letting him oversleep tells me everything I need to know about the kid.

The guy's roommate letting him oversleep tells me everything I need to know about the kid.
- PeteM

I guess Michael Dal Colle doesn’t care for him much

Ironically, last year he really did everything right and they said it was tough to send him down. If he had of just STFU and went to b-port and played hard he would have been the first call up. Instead, he had a temper tantrum... was incredibly foolish.
- niteislander

He missed day 2 of coach Trotz first training camp as Islanders coach due to personal reasons and was sent down. I don’t think that’s doing the right thing or endearing yourself to the new coach. As we all know he missed his first day of training camp over sleeping the year before that. The story has always been the same with this kid unfortunately.

There are lots of young players stuck in the pipeline that don't get talked about but the nhl is about team play.