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New York Islanders: Josh Ho-Sang Draws Interest From Penguins (Rumor)

By Matt O'Leary|
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Josh Ho-Sang #26 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Josh Ho-Sang #26 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The banged-up Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for forward help. Apparently, they’re kicking the tires on New York Islanders forward Josh Ho-Sang.

Josh Ho-Sang hasn’t yet reported to the AHL after being waived by the New York Islanders. His representation asked for a trade upon finding out that he was waived and Lou Lamoriello told Ho-Sang to hold tight while they look for a suitor.

Now, it appears that at least one team is interested in him. The Pittsburgh Penguins are rumored to have checked in on the Josh Ho-Sang situation.

Despite the Pens winning two games in a row, they are in desperate need of forward help. Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bjugstad, Bryan Rust, and Alex Galchenyuk are out of the lineup at the moment. Pittsburgh looks like a shell of its former self.

With Malkin and Rust on LTIR, they need some help in their top-six. Enter Josh Ho-Sang who is a cheap risk for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ho-Sang is on a one-year $874,125 contract and is an RFA at the end of the year. If it works out, the Penguins found themselves an affordable option who can plugin with either of the two top lines.

In 53 career NHL games, Josh Ho-Sang has 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists). His biggest NHL impact was felt in the 2016-2017 season when he nearly helped carry a John Tavares-less Islanders team to the playoffs.

Last year, he only had a 10 game sample putting up two points. While those numbers weren’t great his advanced numbers were rather solid.

Right now, Dominik Simon is playing with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Could you imagine what Ho-Sang could do with two players who had a combined 75 goals last year?

I’ve come to terms with Josh Ho-Sang never playing for this team again, he desperately needs a fresh opportunity and Pittsburgh would provide just that. It’s rather ironic that Pittsburgh might be his best chance at a fresh start and just a couple of years ago, Pens fans hated his guts because he wore the number 66.

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In terms of cost, the Penguins would likely give up a draft pick, maybe a sixth-rounder. If I’m Jim Rutherford I make that decision in a heartbeat.

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