Forward Josh Ho-Sang has been released from his PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs and has signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. This is an exclusively AHL deal which means Ho-Sang is not eligible to get called up to the NHL unless he signs a two-way NHL deal. That doesn’t mean he won’t be playing for the Maple Leafs at some point during the 2021-22 NHL season.
This is a way for the Maple Leafs to get Ho-Sang into the AHL without having to put him on waivers if he were to sign a two-way deal coming out of his tryout. It’s unclear how long the Maple Leafs intend to keep him with the Marlies, but the belief seems to be that he will eventually make his way up to the NHL, if not fairly quickly.
It seems most Maple Leafs fans are eager to see what he can do if given the chance. He played solidly on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander and he could be a nice depth add. Tavares said, during the intermission of a preseason game, “His maturity level just seemed to [go up] another notch in all areas: the way he carries himself, his approach on the ice, the consistency he’s bringing & just simplifying his game a little bit …” Tavares would know, having spent some time with him in New York.
Others aren’t sold he’s a regular NHL player and he’s had a bumpy road, playing himself out of a contract with the New York Islanders. If that’s the case, this gives the Maple Leafs a chance to see how their regular lineup rolls without Ho-Sang in it before ultimately making a decision on him.
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