Fans root for Josh Ho-Sang who’s had complete change of attitude and could return to NHL

Getting named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster is a huge accomplishment for Josh Ho-Sang. There have been quite a lot of up’s and down’s in the former first rounder’s career, and while his talent was never questioned, his attitude sure was.

This past summer, the New York Islanders chose not to qualify the pending RFA making him an unrestricted free agent for the first since being drafted 28th overall by the Islanders back in 2014. Ho-Sang has played just 53 NHL games with the Islanders and has bounced around the AHL and the Swedish Hockey League these past two seasons when it was clear that he wasn’t in the Isles long or short term plans.

He then got a call from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a professional try-out (PTO).

Ho-Sang’s career has been plagued by whispers that he lacks character and that he doesn’t have the mental fortitude to play the game at the highest level. He was kicked out of Islanders training camp twice for sleeping in and missing practice. There were unsubstantiated reports that he has difficulty getting along with teammates. Let’s put it bluntly, some people felt he’s an arrogant jerk.

But that’s all in the past as fans are now rooting for him especially after Ho-Sang explained on the air of Sportsnet’s the Fan 590 what he has learned from past mistakes and how he is now a changed man.

In 20 games with the Marlies this year, Ho-Sang has 11 goals and 20 points. And now with the chance to focus on hockey and show his skills on the roster of Team Canada, Ho-Sang could convince Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas to sign him to an NHL contract to get him into the line-up for the playoffs.

Ho-Sang is turning his career around and he could be heading in the right direction to get back in the NHL, even maybe as part of the Maple Leafs’ lineup.