Eyes On Isles
Fansided

Islanders three options Barry Trotz can use to ‘rattle’ the lineup

By Michel Anderson

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Barry Trotz, the head coach of the New York Islanders handles the bench against the Nashville Predators at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on December 17, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Predators defeated the Islanders 8-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Barry Trotz, the head coach of the New York Islanders handles the bench against the Nashville Predators at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on December 17, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Predators defeated the Islanders 8-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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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) /

Ho-Sang Up

He’s not a goal scorer. So bringing up Josh Ho-Sang isn’t a direct fix for what is plaguing the New York Islanders at the moment. But Josh Ho-Sang’s playmaking abilities could be the shot of creativity that the Islanders need right now.

Does he deserve a call-up? Not really. He just started playing again after sitting out for months after requesting a trade. With eight points in 12 games, he’s been his usual productive self. Ho-Sang’s issue was never production it was his ability to play a team game.

But man bringing up Josh Ho-Sang from the AHL would undoubtedly rattle the lineup.

A move like this certainly has it’s drawbacks. Like how does the group respond to bringing in a guy that didn’t want to be there? Does it motivate them more or less?

But after two games with back-to-back shutouts where guys are playing, as Barry Trotz said “regular season hockey” and not playoff hockey, you’re looking for any reaction.

Proposed lineup:

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Ho-Sang
Bellows-Brassard-Dal Colle
Martin-Bardreau-Komarov

Bonus to calling up Josh Ho-Sang, you get to put him in the shop window in the leadup to the trade deadline. How motivated would Josh Ho-Sang be to showcase his skills to the other 30 NHL teams out there? Very motivated. He’d be very motivated to put himself in the shop window. To the benefit of the Islanders.

I put Ho-Sang with Nelson because of how the two played a few years back. They can clearly play together and with the way Nelson is playing over the last two seasons, perhaps their partnership can be even more fruitful than it was in 2017-18.

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