Ho-Sang is surprisingly gathering trade interest!

New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang hasn’t made many allies in his short time with the organization. The former first round pick (28th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft) has played just 43 games for the Isles since being drafted over four years ago, putting up a stellar six goals and 22 points along the way. 

Expected to crack the team’s opening night roster after two up and down seasons spent between the Isles and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers the past two years, Ho-Sang was an early cut in training camp and demoted back to Bridgeport. In nine games with the Sound Tigers to start the season, Ho-Sang has no goals and just four assists.

If you ask the kid himself, it is all because he was buried in the minors... This is what he had to say to the New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis earlier today.

“I felt like they had their minds made up on what was going to happen and what the team was going to look like,” Ho-Sang said. “It’s OK. They had the whole summer to plan that. I don’t know if you watched any of the games, but I didn’t play a lot. It’s OK. It is what it is.”

“Lou has his morals, and you don’t have to agree with them, but those aren’t going to change.”

“They tell me they want me to be a top-six forward up there, but I’m not a top-six forward down here, so it’s confusing,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s like you’re sprinting with a rubber band on. You constantly have tension. You run until you’re exhausted and then the band is going to pull you back. If I was going to say anything, it would be just watch. I’m just pointing it out.”

Now, if ever the Islanders wanted to part ways with Ho-Sang, especially following his comments, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes there could be interest for the forward. 

“I think it depends on the price,” explained Friedman about the interest of Ho-Sang if placed on the trade block, on the air of Vancouver's Sportsnet 650. “I really do. What are we talking about here.

“I think there’s a lot of teams in the NHL that would be happy to trade for a guy who is talented and would be kind of a devalued asset on his second team, as long as the price wasn’t too high.

“I mean, how many guys - you’ve got the patron saint of finding it with his second team, that’s Taylor Hall, and then there’s other guys who haven’t. But you’re really happy to take a chance, aren’t you.

“... I think there would be a lot of teams interested in Ho-Sang. I’m sure there would be some who would look at it and say no, but I think there would be a lot teams interested in Ho-Sang - but it all depends on the price.”

It’s clear that the kid is frustrated. Maybe a change of scenery is what’s needed for all parties involved? Ho-Sang is currently in the final season of his entry-level contract.