What Happened to Josh Ho-Sang? The Kid Who Keeps Trying
Remember Josh Ho-Sang? The flashy, first-round pick (28th overall by the New York Islanders in 2014) who had Toronto Maple Leafs fans buzzing when he turned up on a tryout a few years back. He played a full season with the AHL Toronto Marlies and put up decent numbers, showing that ridiculous skill, the hands, the vision. Then, he was gone. The Maple Leafs liked him, but didn’t offer him a contract for a second look. One day, he was competing for a contract; the next, he wasn’t, and that was that.
Ho-Sang Had a Career of Stops, Starts, and Detours.
Ho-Sang’s path after Toronto has been pretty wild. He dipped into the ECHL and even won a Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades in 2024. Before that, he had short pandemic-era loans in the SHL and a brief KHL run with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in 2022–23. As early as 2023, he was hinting at retiring—but he never actually walked away.
Late in December 2025, he gave it another go, signing a new two-way deal with the same Russian club. He started in their VHL affiliate, trying to grind out one more shot. Then, on February 10, 2026, the KHL announced he’d been released. He never played a game. Reports say he got hurt early in camp, rehabbed, but never got into the lineup. Just like that, another door closed.
With Ho-Sang, the Talent Was Always There, But Something Always Came Up.
That’s the part that makes his story tough. Ho-Sang wasn’t just skilled—he was electric. In the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he put up 292 points in 256 games. The offensive ceiling was sky-high, but the consistency and defensive habits never synced with NHL expectations. Between the Islanders and his Maple Leafs stint, he only got a handful of NHL games, never enough runway to stick.
He’s also dipped into music, releasing rap tracks here and there. That’s one thing you can say about him: he’s never been short on creativity.
What’s Next for Ho-Sang?
Now he’s 30, a free agent again, and his hockey future is unclear. Maybe Europe calls. Maybe another North American team gives him a look. Maybe he finally pivots to something else. It’s hard to say. And it's been less than two weeks since he was released in Russia.
It’s a little sad—so much hype, so few real chances—but you have to respect the persistence. While most players fade quietly from the scene, Ho-Sang’s persistence keeps his journey alive. Whatever happens next, his story has never been boring.