It is time for previously broken relationships to be mended. If you haven’t heard yet, Joshua Ho-Sang posted a photo on Instagram late Monday night with the caption “Time to play hockey”, which raised many questions on social media. Will he be returning to the Islanders? Did they cut him so he could find another opportunity to play? Did they finally find a trade partner for him? Well, Tuesday morning, our questions were answered.

Rob Taub, a reporter for IslesBlog tweeted late Monday night that he received a message that said Ho-Sang was planning to report to Bridgeport, and that was confirmed Tuesday morning by Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Joshua Ho-Sang was returning to the Islanders organization by reporting to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on his own terms.

He was the final cut of the NHL roster at the end of training camp, and took that to heart, leaving the team and eventually requesting a trade from the Islanders. During Ho-Sang’s 77-day exile from Long Island and the Islanders organization, he has been skating on his own and training at the BioSteel training facility in his hometown of Toronto.

The surprising thing about Ho-Sang’s return to the Islanders is the way he approached it. He called up Chris Lamoriello, the Assistant GM who also serves as the GM of the Sound Tigers, to see if he could report to the team. After a long discussion with Head Coach Brent Thompson, Ho-Sang was given the approval to report.

Since the official word from Lou Lamoriello yesterday at practice, there have been many questions that have been brought up. One question, in particular, is how this affects the call-up hierarchy in Bridgeport. Before the news of Ho-Sang reporting and Oliver Wahlstrom being assigned to the USA’s World Juniors team was official, the call-up list was likely headlined by Wahlstrom, Cole Bardreau, Otto Koivula, Andrew Ladd (once he is ready), and, when healthy, Tanner Fritz.

Does Ho-Sang jump towards the top of the list, maybe even the top of the list? My answer to start would be no. Ho-Sang hasn’t skated in a game since the preseason and hasn’t skated against NHL competition since his final call-up last season in December. After a month or so in the American Hockey League, the Islanders should reassess the situation and potentially consider him as a solution if he plays up to standards.

Another question that has floated around is if he only wants to play so he can show off for other teams. Do I believe this is true? I don’t think so. When Lou was asked about how his prior relationship with Ho-Sang related to his return, he said that between Ho-Sang and the team, they believe it is a clean slate for the former first-round pick.

Overall, I think Joshua Ho-Sang’s decision to ask for permission to report to the team and his willingness to report to the Sound Tigers shows a new maturity level for Ho-Sang, who has previously been reported to have a negative attitude, which definitely showed during the report of a trade request earlier in the season. I believe this is the best opportunity Ho-Sang is going to get, and there is definitely a chance that if he plays well, he could possibly be called up in an injury situation later in the season.

SEF