New York Islanders Pros and Cons of Calling Up Josh Ho-Sang

Pros

The first obvious pro is the offense that Josh Ho-Sang can generate on the power play. He’s creative and great at getting the puck into the zone. Putting him on the second power play over Cal Clutterbuck gives the Islanders a player that can get the puck into the O-zone and open up space.

Again, replacing Cal Clutterbuck with Josh Ho-Sang on the power play is a clear pro. Cal is a fine player for the Isles fourth line, but he shouldn’t have a place on the power play.

Second is simply the general offense he brings. We already know what Josh Ho-Sang can do at the NHL level. In 43 games across two seasons, Ho-Sang has 22 points. That’s a 42 point season when averaged out over 82 games.

The Islanders have been good at preventing goals from going into their net (seventh best goals against in the league), but they haven’t been great at generating goals (21st best goals for in the league). Josh Ho-sang can help with that.

Lastly, is learning how to play two-way hockey in the right environment. The big knock against Josh Ho-Sang is his defensive abilities. His work off the puck just isn’t up to snuff. The Isles third line seems to be the perfect situation to let Ho-Sang play some offense and learn what to do off the puck.

Valtteri Filppula and Leo Komarov have been great for the New York Islanders. They’ve combined for 37 points over 26 games this season. All while starting an overwhelming majority of their shifts in the defensive zone. On average they start 62.3 percent of their shifts in the D-zone.

Ho-Sang can learn the lessons he needs to learn while still contributing offensively at the NHL level.

PS: To call up Ho-Sang the Isles would hopefully send down Tom “I haven’t produced anything in nine games” Kuhnhackl. That’s an extra pro.