Islanders avoid arbitration sign Josh Ho-Sang to one-year deal

The New York Islanders and Josh Ho-Sang avoid arbitration by coming to an agreement on a single year deal.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday that the New York Islanders had come to an agreement with winger Josh Ho-Sang ahead of his scheduled arbitration hearing on October 30.

According to Friedman, the deal is for a single year with an NHL salary of $700,000 and a minor salary of $225,000. While that NHL salary is far less than the $917,831 his qualifying offer would have been, that minor’s salary is a substantial increase from what he received in 2019-20 ($70,000).

Rocky Road

It’s been a rocky relationship for Josh Ho-Sang and the New York Islanders ever since they drafted the promising young prospects 28th overall in 2014. That relationship seemed headed to its end this year when Ho-Sang was forced to sit for two months while the Islanders tried to trade him and was then sent to play with another organization (San Antonio Rampage).

Surprisingly, the Islanders gave Josh Ho-Sang a qualifying offer rather than let him go and become an unrestricted free agent as they did with prospect Linus Soderstrom.

The surprises kept on coming when Ho-Sang filed for arbitration – a move that caught Lou Lamoriello by surprise.

Thankfully, both sides have come to an agreement and avoided what could have only made things worse.

The Islanders have little depth on the wing. They have even fewer players that can electrify a crowd with their offensive abilities. Josh Ho-Sang represents both of those. Ideally, this deal brings both sides together and allows them to set healthy and attainable expectations for either side.

In his limited play at the NHL level, Josh Ho-Sang has scored 24 points in 53 games. At the AHL level, he’s put up 123 points in 178 games. If both sides can work together for the first time since 2014, perhaps they’ll find the solution they’re both looking for. For the New York Islanders, it’s some affordable top-six offense and for Josh Ho-Sang it’s playing in the NHL.

Now we wait and see if both sides have found a way to get that, or if more drama is in store.