Joshua Ho-Sang, Center/Right-wing, 1st Round

[bluechipbonzo]

Really? Typically a prospect of his type (high offensive skill, speed, etc) tends to already take high risks and cheat a bit, no?

What he was saying was- he felt JHS looked to be playing cautious to gain the trust of the coaching staff...I watched the game, he was creating every other shift. Even got a little PP time (like last 20-30 secs of three PPs) but was on the fourth line.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Especially wearing #66 in the process.

Our boy Josh, a.k.a. #66 played another impressive game last night. I have him on the tournament roster, but given the way Hockey Canada operates, that's not a sure thing. I have him in and Strome out. Strome showed nothing so far and only 1 game remains. I'm not even sure he plays in it.

 

[rockhouse15]

Our boy Josh, a.k.a. #66 played another impressive game last night. I have him on the tournament roster, but given the way Hockey Canada operates, that's not a sure thing. I have him in and Strome out. Strome showed nothing so far and only 1 game remains. I'm not even sure he plays in it.

What was his role last night and who were his linemates?

 

[1Gold Standard]

What was his role last night and who were his linemates?

The pregame lineup had him as the extra forward, but he quickly moved up to play regular minutes with Konecny. The team last night had 8-10 players on it who are considered to be locks for the Christmas tourney, Ho-Sang was the most dynamic player among them... His game still needs lots of work...but he's getting there.

 

[Felix Unger]

The way he kept his head up while juking and dangling like that was sick.

 

[Riseonfire]

The way he kept his head up while juking and dangling like that was sick.

That was some serious Patty Kane ****

 

[duster19]

The pregame lineup had him as the extra forward, but he quickly moved up to play regular minutes with Konecny. The team last night had 8-10 players on it who are considered to be locks for the Christmas tourney, Ho-Sang was the most dynamic player among them... His game still needs lots of work...but he's getting there.

Dynamic is a very good way to describe him. He kind of reminded me of drouin. So good with the puck and has fantastic vision. Capable of a big play at any moment.

 

[rockhouse15]

The pregame lineup had him as the extra forward, but he quickly moved up to play regular minutes with Konecny. The team last night had 8-10 players on it who are considered to be locks for the Christmas tourney, Ho-Sang was the most dynamic player among them... His game still needs lots of work...but he's getting there.

Ok thanks. Didn't get a chance to watch game but hopefully I will have time soon to watch the ones I have missed, this one especially for JHS. Not sure why they keep playing him with these smaller players possession players like Konecny. I'd like to see what he could do with a Virtanen, Strome, or MDC on the top-6 and let JHS just set up the bigger goal scorers. Doubt they take him to play bottom line or energy line role for WJC.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

What should be clear: The Virtanens of the world DO NOT possess Ho-Sang's abilities. They simply don't. Not saying that Virtanen per se may not have other attributes that are worthy of a spot on the WJC squad or that there aren't other attributes that make him or his ilk more worthy of a spot than Ho-Sang.

Still, if Hockey Canada is very smart, and he's doing well heading into Christmas, they'll bring Josh along to Helsinki, because few countries have such a joker who can single-handedly change the face of a game if things are too static. A lot of the U20 kids playing for other countries just won't be able to shut down or keep up with a guy like Josh.

I hope Hockey Canada keeps that in mind.

Also, I'm scheduled to be there in Helsinki, so I'm a good bit partial here.

 

[Disappointed EP40]

I watched the game and love Ho Sang's skill.

He's going to be a solid top six winger in the league. His personality maybe sabotages him as his ice-time was sparse to start then increased as he looked next level in comparison to most the guys out there. Pure speculation. He was just used wildly considering how much better he was than some others. Bit of a puck hog, but really danced around some kids out there.

 

[rockhouse15]

I watched the game and love Ho Sang's skill.

He's going to be a solid top six winger in the league. His personality maybe sabotages him as his ice-time was sparse to start then increased as he looked next level in comparison to most the guys out there. Pure speculation. He was just used wildly considering how much better he was than some others. Bit of a puck hog, but really danced around some kids out there.

Yeah he's such a puck hog he only averaged more than an assist per game both in the regular and post season last year .

Note this is not to criticize you but to just make a point about how ridiculous this line about JHS being a puck-hog or selfish really is. What our problem is in hockey is that we rarely see a player like ho-sang come around that can dominate possession of the puck for so long in dangerous areas that we misconstrue it as hording the puck rather than recognizing he is just so athletic and skilled that people can't take it away from him even in high scoring areas. It's not like he picks the puck up behind the net and tries to skate through 5 guys while pretending his teammates aren't there and then takes a low chance shot or turns it over. All he is doing is trying to make as many plays as possible that lead to a good scoring chance and because of his puck-handling, skating, and vision, more often than not he can create that chance. Just look at players in other sports like Steve Nash or Messi. They both dominate the ball any chance they get but its only to make the best play available to score and no one calls them selfish. Hockey fans have to start seeing Ho-Sangs skill in a similar light as well and move off this idea that holding the puck a lot=puck hog every time.

Rant over.

 

[Riseonfire]

You guys remember when Gustav Nyquist held onto the puck for like 2 minutes in the offensive zone, not passing once and then scored the goal? What a selfish SOB. He'll never make it in the bigs.

 

[MoBoTFB]

Yeah he's such a puck hog he only averaged more than an assist per game both in the regular and post season last year .

Note this is not to criticize you but to just make a point about how ridiculous this line about JHS being a puck-hog or selfish really is. What our problem is in hockey is that we rarely see a player like ho-sang come around that can dominate possession of the puck for so long in dangerous areas that we misconstrue it as hording the puck rather than recognizing he is just so athletic and skilled that people can't take it away from him even in high scoring areas. It's not like he picks the puck up behind the net and tries to skate through 5 guys while pretending his teammates aren't there and then takes a low chance shot or turns it over. All he is doing is trying to make as many plays as possible that lead to a good scoring chance and because of his puck-handling, skating, and vision, more often than not he can create that chance. Just look at players in other sports like Steve Nash or Messi. They both dominate the ball any chance they get but its only to make the best play available to score and no one calls them selfish. Hockey fans have to start seeing Ho-Sangs skill in a similar light as well and move off this idea that holding the puck a lot=puck hog every time.

Rant over.

He is a puck hog he holds on to the puck for a long time in the offensive zone. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But it is not wrong to call him a puck hog.

 

[rockhouse15]

He is a puck hog he holds on to the puck for a long time in the offensive zone. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But it is not wrong to call him a puck hog.

Puck hog for every time I hear it comes with the negative connotation that he never gives up the puck after getting it unless he shoots or turns it over. Watching him, his problem more often than not is over-passing, not being a black hole on the ice. With any other player that can hold the puck like Ho-sang they are talked about positively as an elite puck handler or dominant puck possession player and playmaker. With JHS for whatever reason, that Hockey Canada doesn't like him, he's really confident and sounds it in interviews, or that the Toronto Sun wrote some harsh articles about him, his same skill set is considered a negative instead of a huge positive that it's considered for with a Crosby or McDavid who both dominate the puck (not saying he is at there level just similar ability on the puck).

 

[Draftman]

Puck hog for every time I hear it comes with the negative connotation that he never gives up the puck after getting it unless he shoots or turns it over. Watching him, his problem more often than not is over-passing, not being a black hole on the ice. With any other player that can hold the puck like Ho-sang they are talked about positively as an elite puck handler or dominant puck possession player and playmaker. With JHS for whatever reason, that Hockey Canada doesn't like him, he's really confident and sounds it in interviews, or that the Toronto Sun wrote some harsh articles about him, his same skill set is considered a negative instead of a huge positive that it's considered for with a Crosby or McDavid who both dominate the puck (not saying he is at there level just similar ability on the puck).

If the Leafs or any other Canadian team had drafted him, there would be totally different articles.

 

[rikker]

if he has a chance to pass to a player in prime position, whether it's the O zone (scoring chance), or the D zone (breakout), and doesn't, then he could be considered a hog.

doesn't really matter how many assists he had. and let's not forget things like giveaways or +/-.

team success is more important, anyway. intangibles like leadership qualities, are not all that available to us, so it isn't easy to understand the entire decision making process. i seriously do not think that all of Canada is 'against' JHS, as some seem to think.

and how biased is the Canadian media? all you have to do is see and hear how much the Hab fans and Leaf fans dislike each other, and you will know that it is a team thing, not a country thing. writers get paid to appease their readership, and if that means laying it on thick to the point of nausea, then i am sure that the editor will approve.

 

[Lame Lambert]

He is a puck hog he holds on to the puck for a long time in the offensive zone. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But it is not wrong to call him a puck hog.

I'd rather him hold onto the puck and wait for a play than pull a Brian Strait and treat the puck like a grenade.

 

[The Underboss]

 

[Lame Lambert]

He missed the net on the first shot! What an awful player!!!!

 

[YearlyLottery]

Finesse and skill doesn't win championships, playing hahd hockey and being 6'6 winning championships.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

Finesse and skill doesn't win championships, playing hahd hockey and being 6'6 winning championships.

this kid sucks!! doesn't he know theres no shootout anymore?!?!?!

 

[rockhouse15]

What a selfish player passing it off the boards to himself. Try using your teammates JOSH!!

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

Bust.

 

[doublechili]

I hope JHS makes it as much as the next guy, but shootout practice goals mean nothing.

 

[Beastrt]

I just read on islanders point blank that Ho-sang is ranked 10th best islander prospect by the hockey news, while collberg is ranked 5th. This to me is crazy, it should be reversed. I just dont get the hate for Ho-sang.