Loan of Josh Ho-Sang Overseas Meant to Prove to Isles, NHL He Can Still Play

The Idea behind sending Josh Ho-Sang overseas to play was a pretty simple one. Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders wanted the talented forward to prove that he could still play in the NHL.

Ho-Sang is on the way to his second Swedish hockey club after his loan with Orebro was terminated earlier this week. On Sunday it was announced that Ho-Sang would join Linkoping HC of the SHL.

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The termination from his first club came only shortly after he joined them and was due to concern over his fitness. After he was released, according to Lamoriello, another team was quick to inquire about Josh Ho-Sang playing for them.

“There was another team that saw when he was released and called and asked if he would go there,” Lamoriello said during a Zoom call on Sunday. “We talked to Josh and he was already in Sweden. He said absolutely and that’s where it’s at right now.”

The Islanders’ decision to qualify Ho-Sang during the offseason raised some eyebrows considering how things have gone between the organization and Ho-Sang. Despite being a gifted player, Ho-Sang has never managed to stick in the NHL during his time with the Islanders.

Ho-Sang was drafted by the Islanders in 2014 and the organization still thought he had potential when they made the decision to qualify him. However, when the team reconvened for the new COVID-19 shortened season, Lamoriello didn’t feel that he was in the “pecking order” as far as the team’s depth chart was concerned.

It was then that the topic of playing overseas in Europe came up.

“We spoke to him and recommended he should try Europe and we would help him do that,” Lamoriello said. “To almost get a fresh start and convince some people that he can still play this game, including us, and get back on track. God gave him the talent, he just has to actuate it.”