Is Josh Ho-Sang thinking about hanging up the skates?
According to a report in Russian publication Sport Express, the former Toronto Marlies forward has told his KHL club Ufa Salavat Yulaev that he’s thinking about ending his professional hockey career.
"Now he is thinking about ending his progressional (hockey) career," Salavat technical director Rinat Bashirov said in the article. "In his latest messages to us, he said that we can easily start hiring the legionnaires (non-Russian players) we want."
The door for Ho-Sang to return to the KHL isn't fully closed. However, the only way the Thornhill, Ontario, native could return to the club this season would be for him to become a Russian citizen. It's clear to point out that Ho-Sang hasn't picked this route, nor has he indicated he wants to do this. But the team has prepared the paperwork for the player to become a citizen should Ho-Sang change his mind and wanted to play with the club this season.
Ho-Sang, 27, signed with the KHL last season but suffered a "significant" injury in his first game and required surgery. He returned for the KHL playoffs and played in four playoff games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs brought Ho-Sang into camp on a professional tryout back in the fall of 2021 and later signed him to an AHL contract to play with the Marlies. He got off to a strong start with the club and earned himself a spot on Team Canada for the 2022 Olympics in China as a after NHL players pulled out of participating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ho-Sang finished his season with the Marlies with 16 goals and 19 assists in 47 games.
A first-round pick (28th overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ho-Sang struggled to stick around at the NHL level. He has played 53 NHL games spread over three seasons, all with the Islanders, scoring seven goals and adding 17 assists.
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