/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47218048/GettyImages-479968828.0.jpg)
Joshua Ho-Sang's chances of making the Islanders roster were pretty slim this year, with open spots at a premium and mostly already filled by incumbents. His chances dropped to 0.0% today after he was returned to his junior team for showing up late to the first day of camp, according to a tweet from Arthur Staple.
Joshua Ho-Sang was late for the first day of #Isles training camp. He's been sent back to Niagara of the OHL. Camp over for him.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 18, 2015
Staple first reported this morning that Ho-Sang wasn't present and accounted for with coach Jack Capuano. Then around 2:20 Staple tweeted that Ho-Sang was told to pack up his knives and go.
Ho-Sang is a player under the microscope already because of his contentious history with Hockey Canada, which will surely be re-re-re-enflamed by this latest misstep. Arriving late to an NHL training camp isn't a great way to change your rep. The extent and reason behind his lateness isn't known yet.
Sending him home is a stone cold move by the Islanders, who surely could have found a less extreme punishment (vacuuming the locker room?, washing Capuano's boat?, airing out the Sparky costume?) that still would have taught the 19-year-old a lesson about being a professional.
The team has had a good relationship with Ho-Sang so far, and this episode doesn't necessarily mean that that's at an end.
Couple #Isles folks said Ho-Sang's behavior had been exemplary during week of rookie camp that preceded today. Same with camp in July.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 18, 2015
Ho-Sang was also going to skate this weekend on the right side with Tavares and Lee. Clearly #Isles value him.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 18, 2015
In any case, somebody was stupid. RT for Ho-Sang, FAV for the Islanders.
Camp is barely two days old and the Islanders have had one RFA come in under the wire, seen another longtime player get traded and now sent home a promising prospect for being late. We're looking forward with someone coming down with malaria on Saturday.