New York Islanders: Packaging Josh Ho-Sang & Picks For Elite Defender

If New York Islanders GM Garth Snow won’t bring Josh Ho-Sang up, then it’s time to cut the Isles losses and package him with draft picks and an NHL-level player for a top-four defenseman.

Anyone with any rooting interest in the New York Islanders, myself included, wants to see Joshua Ho-Sang excel as an Islander. We’ve been hearing about his talents and potential since the Islanders drafted him with the 28th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In his limited time in the NHL he has produced fairly well.

After spending the better part of two seasons languishing in Bridgeport, other Islanders prospects continue to get their chance to play at the highest level. Because of Ho-Sang’s “attitude issues”, he remains banished to the minors. Constantly (and publicly) being at odds with Bridgeport head coach Brent Thompson has not helped the situation.

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow‘s hands are tied. Recalling Ho-Sang after publicly chastising him for his lack of maturity would make the target currently on Snow’s back even larger. Fans have been calling for his termination, mainly due to Snow not pulling the trigger on a trade to improve this talented (and injury-ravaged) team.

Time for New York Islanders to make a move

With rumors swirling about the asking price of Arizona Coyotes superstar defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it’s time for the New York Islanders to move on from Josh Ho-Sang and make a trade. Although the asking price is steep, it would be well worth it for a player of Ekman-Larsson’s caliber.

As per SNY’s Andy Graziano, the Coyotes are looking for two high-end NHL level players and a first-round draft pick in exchange for Oliver Ekman-Larsson. If the Isles were to package, let’s say, their own 2018 first-rounder, Calgary’s 2018 first-rounder, Ho-Sang, and another NHL ready prospect, I can’t see Arizona rejecting it.

Let’s see how an Islanders deal for OEL may look:

Would that be enough?

Joshua Ho-Sang’s undeniable talent combined with Alan Quine’s potential by no means equates to “two high-end roster players”. But if the New York Islanders were to throw in two 2018 first-round draft picks, again, there’s no way the Coyotes could not accept the deal.  Picking up a player like Ekman-Larsson could dramatically change the trajectory of this season for the Islanders.

Locked up through next season at a fairly economical $5.5 million, this would give the Isles the top-four defenseman they so desperately need this year in the absence of Calvin de Haan, and one of the more formidable top two pairings in the NHL once Johnny Boychuk is healthy.

Next: John Tavares, $15 Million Man

If the New York Islanders won’t recall Josh Ho-Sang and think so little of him that they felt it necessary to publicly scold him, then it’s simply time to walk away. By letting him sit in Bridgeport, further damaging his psyche, the Islanders are watching JHS’s value plummet. It seems there may be no way out of this conundrum but for the Isles to cut their losses and move on.