Can Josh Ho-Sang turn his Olympic opportunity into a job with the Maple Leafs? - The Athletic
Ho-Sang is well aware that NHL teams will be watching his Olympic performance. The Leafs do not own his NHL rights, and he is currently free to sign an NHL contract with any team that offers him one. He believes it would be “silly not to consider” those offers.
Still, he’s trying to not look too far ahead, even though the Olympics could revitalize his career.
“This is a moment that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ho-Sang said. “And it’s fleeting. I don’t want to blink.”
Welcome to Josh Ho-Sang 2.0, one which features improved maturity, better adherence to team structure and more accountability. The highlight-reel production is still coming (20 points in 27 AHL games) which means Ho-Sang has at least answered some questions about what he’s capable of after only playing nine games split between two Swedish Hockey League teams last season.
So for now, the most pressing questions for Ho-Sang as Canada begins its Olympic tournament on Thursday involve what the tournament could propel him to:
Will a strong showing land him an NHL contract?
And will it come from the Leafs or another team?
Having never met Ho-Sang before, Marlies head coach Greg Moore wasn’t sure what to expect. Ho-Sang’s reputation preceded him, but there was an organizational belief that the player should be afforded a clean slate. And in return, the Maple Leafs’ development staff and Marlies coaches would provide Ho-Sang with the kind of constant, transparent feedback that perhaps he’d been lacking previously in his career. “This is what we think is keeping you from a steady career in the NHL” was the repeated message.
“From day one,” said Moore, “he’s had the right mindset of being honest with where he’s at.”
Many people within the Marlies have continually been impressed by his approach: Whatever reputation he had beforehand hasn’t been proven true in Toronto. He’s become known for his punctuality, attentiveness and honesty in meetings, to the point that some of those people have been surprised by how open he is in admitting his own flaws.
“I feel very heard there. My opinion seems like it matters,” said Ho-Sang. “That really inspires players when they feel connected to their organization rather than a piece of meat like players that I’ve heard have experienced in some places.”
A player of Ho-Sang’s skill could always just coast on that skill alone. But what’s different for Ho-Sang this season is how the desire to improve generally matches the effort to do just that.
