New York Islanders 3 Biggest Questions for 2018-19 Training Camp

Can Kieffer Bellows or Josh Ho-Sang Beat Out Veterans?

With the additions of Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov, Matt Martin, and Tom Kuhnhackl this offseason, the New York Islanders didn’t get any younger and certainly didn’t become more skilled.

But from the look of things, all of these aforementioned players have a spot on the 2018-19 roster. Unlike young and skilled players like Kieffer Bellows and Josh Ho-Sang. Both seem ready for the NHL, and both might not have a spot on the roster this season.

After a successful venture in the WHL where he scored 74 points in 56 games, Kieffer Bellows is ready to make good on his desire to be in the NHL this year.

Josh Ho-Sang didn’t have the banner year that Bellows had, but Ho-Sang has been around a number of years. And unlike Bellows, he’s shown that he can play at the NHL level, scoring 22 points in 43 games over the last two years.

Again, neither have a roster spot guaranteed for the 2018-19 season. Which is fine. Neither are entitled to one. But based on the moves made in the offseason, including giving a no move to Filppula and a modified no-trade to Komarov, it would seem like Bellows and Ho-Sang’s paths might just be blocked.

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Of course, that can change in training camp. Both or either could have an incredible camp and turn a number of heads in the organization. They’ll need to do that and hope that they also outperformed some of those vets mentioned earlier if they want to play in the NHL this year.