New York Islanders: Brent Thompson’s Comments Are Concerning

Bridgeport Sound Tigers coach Brent Thompson had some concerning comments on New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang.

After an impressive 21 game stretch with the Islanders in 2016-2017, Josh Ho-Sang was looking to cement himself in the New York Islanders lineup. When Ho-Sang was scratched on opening night I knew something wasn’t right.

Ho-Sang has bounced back and forth between the AHL and NHL this year which never really made sense. In 22 games with the big club this year he has 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists). In 21 games last year Ho-Sang had 10 points and was praised mightily for it. What changed?

For some reason, he’s been in the dog house with this organization in 2017-2018.

While in the AHL to “perfect his craft”, Josh Ho-Sang hasn’t had the best of situations. This New York Post article has exposed the Islanders for their lunacy with this guy.

In 15 games with the Sound Tigers, he’s played with eight different line combinations. How is anybody supposed to improve with a revolving door of linemates?

Then, of course, it doesn’t help that Brent Thompson continually throws Josh Ho-Sang under the bus with a litany of poorly worded quotes.

"“He’s a baby,” Thompson said. “He’s a baby, he’s immature and he’s got a lot of growing to do.“Inconsistency is probably one of the biggest negatives,” Thompson said. “There are times he can be the best player on the ice. There are times he can be the worst.”"

Are you kidding me? And we wonder why the Islanders struggle developing prospects.

Despite being publicaly torn apart by his coach, a revolving door of linemates and facing healthy scratches Josh Ho-Sang has produced 12 points in 15 games at the AHL level this year.

Between the NHL and AHL Ho-Sang 24 points in 37 games in 2017-2018. Over the course of a full 82 games season that’s a pace of 53 points. This entire situation is just mindblowing to me, the Islanders have a brutally bad third line and they are beating up and underutilizing arguably the most talented prospect, not on the NHL roster.

I hope the Islanders don’t trade Ho-Sang but right now it seems the two sides aren’t on the same page. The Islanders are trying to make him something that he’s not, and Ho-Sang is just frustrated that he’s getting ridiculed and criticized so harshly while he’s producing at a satisfiable rate.

Next: Bye Week Is Unnecessary

Brent Thompson is a Jack Capuano guy, Thompson too probably should’ve been shown the door when Cappy was given the boot. It’s been a year since the Islanders let go of Capuano yet his stench is still all over this organization.