New York Islanders Three Questions Surrounding Josh Ho-Sang

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Joshua Ho-Sang #26 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on December 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Positive Impact

Question: Can he make the players around him better?

Josh Ho-Sang might give the puck away more often than most would like. And Ho-Sang might not shoot the puck often. So what does he do exactly?

Josh Ho-Sang makes the players around him better.

In that ten-game stint last season, Josh Ho-Sang primarily played with Brock Nelson. In those ten games, the two played together for 58 minutes on 5on5. In terms of score-adjusted shots for vs. score-adjusted shots against, Brock Nelson was a demonstrably better player with Josh Ho-Sang than without him.

Only three players on the New York Islanders roster have a better 5on5 expected goals for rate when Josh Ho-Sang isn’t on the ice than when he is. Seventeen players are expected to score more when Ho-Sang is on the ice compared to when he isn’t.

Players like Brock Nelson take a 21.98 percentage point hit to his expected goals for when Ho-Sang isn’t on the ice with him. That’s a huge drop.

Josh Ho-Sang clearly makes those around him better. His ability to create space and time for his teammates translates into scoring opportunities or chances. Why would an NHL team not want that?

Answer: Yes. Josh Ho-Sang makes those around him better.

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But after all that; decreasing giveaway numbers and making those around him better, I’m still not sure he makes the New York Islanders starting roster in 2019-20. I’m still not convinced that the Islanders management is quite ready. I hope they prove me wrong.