Josh Ho-Sang Reassigned to Sound Tigers

After the Isles 5-3 win over Arizona, Head Coach Doug Weight said Josh Ho-Sang could be back in the lineup on Thursday when New York visits Minnesota to face the Wild. This afternoon, the Islanders sent Josh Ho-Sang down to Bridgeport. While Anthony Beauvillier got a full season to make his case last year and any of Mathew Barzal’s shortcomings are over-shadowed by his developing offensive threat level, something in Ho-Sang’s game must not be sitting right with management. Its clear age has nothing to do with it. Beauvillier and Barzal are a year younger than Ho-Sang, but are playing their games and getting big minutes. So, you can ask yourself, why was Josh Ho-Sang scratched twice at home, then sent down? I have a poll on twitter to gauge fan reaction and will update this article when the results come in tomorrow.

Ho-Sang is clearly a dynamic forward that can control the pace of a play and move the puck well, enabling his team to score points. He even had 4 points in 6 games and was tied for the team lead in assists going into last night, but he wasn’t shooting enough (6 shots on goal), needs to improve defensively, make better decisions moving the puck and avoid regular turnovers, 6 in his last 6 games. Not earth shattering based on the turnovers committed by other current veteran team mates, but the Isles need him to be better and I’m sure he knows he must be better as well. He has matured a lot over the past year and is a favorite of Coach Weight by media reports. He will get his chance and should take this time to do what Anders Lee did when he was sent down to the AHL during the start of the 2014-15 season, netting 5 points in 5 games. Produce, work hard and impress management while creating chances regularly enough to never be sent down again.

Because he doesn’t need waivers, he was sent down to the Islanders AHL affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers to work on his game and what probably amounts to allowing him to get some premium minutes in big spots for the BST. I know he needs reps with the big club to fine tune his game at the NHL level, but he also needs to get the message. I get the frustration seeing older players, not in the future plan, getting playing time while Ho-Sang is scratched and now demoted, but the team moves players in and out based on injury, need and accountability.  I also see resentment of fans with Alan Quine making the trip to Minnesota (Staple) while Ho-Sang goes to the BST, but there is a plan for the team on the ice and in the locker room. Each player needs to be a working part of the machine and mesh with one another. I also realize Ho-Sang’s game play and snarl got him drafted 28th overall in first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Isles in the first place, but he needs to take the next step to be taken seriously as a pro. I’m not saying Ho-Sang has been backsliding as a player, just that he has room to improve his game if he wants to be a regular contributor on this team. I have no clue why the determination to send him down was ultimately made, other than to tighten up his play and get more big minutes available on the farm.

Let’s look at a defensive model with other young players. Ryan Pulock was a regular scratch, then helped the team get its first PP point after starting 0-20 and has begun to make a case for himself. I’ve always said Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield were closer to a regular role with the team and I think they are proving it. Dennis Seidenberg had a great season with New York last year and he was signed on short term to see which one of the young defenders would secure their spots, especially with talented Calvin de Haan on a bridge deal heading into next summer. The benefit of competition is that it gives each guy a chance to out play the other. It doesn’t work when the player in question isn’t given a fair shake or get enough of an opportunity to prove his worth. Josh Ho-Sang should be a big part of their success moving forward and hopefully makes the most of his time in Bridgeport.

The Islanders are 5-3-1 with 11 points in 9 games (3rd in metro division, 5th in eastern conference) and have scored 10 goals in their last two games and won their last three. John Tavares is trending upwards in a big way coming off his 7th career hat trick and leading the team with 10 points in 9 games played. Brock Nelson scored Isles 1st PP goal at home this season, Jordan Eberle is the team leader in assists with 6 and had his first multi-point game an Islander while Scott Mayfield opened scoring for Isles defensemen (1-4-5 pts/Hornick) for the first time this season. The team is far from perfect, needs tons of improvement on the PP and more of that ever-elusive consistency, but they are starting to do more things to keep them in or climb back in to a game lately. It’s a start.

Isles Notes:

Per Eric Hornick, “Adam Pelech had three primary assists as he became the youngest Islander defensemen with a three-assist game since Kenny Jonsson as the Isles improved to 3-0-1 at home, matching their best home start in 33 years.”

Arron Asham sat in with Shannon Hogan for intermissions & post game during Coyotes game.

Wilpon donates to Cuomo campaign with eyes on new stadium.

Jonathan Ledecky reveals location of proposed Islanders’ arena at Belmont.

10/14   Ken Hitchcock passes Arbour in on NHL’s all-time list with 783 victories.

Sound Tigers Notes:

Steve Bernier, Scott Eansor & others have been big factors lately.

10/11   Eamon McAdam (G) has been reassigned to the @RailersHC.