Ho-Sang Healthy Scratched, Johnson Bankruptcy & More

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Joshua Ho Sang’s journey to the NHL has been anything but easy. After being selected with the 28th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, Ho-Sang has dealt with some obstacles on the way towards the big leagues. Most recently, Ho-Sang was a healthy scratch in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers game against the Syracuse Crunch.

 

According to Brent Thompson, the Sound Tigers head coach, Ho-Sang was scratched due to some bad habits on the ice.

“Josh is working hard. He’s continuing to work on his game, work on his habits,” Thompson said. “For me, eliminating the swinging, even in practice, little habits. … Maybe he’ll have to watch a game from up top, learning.”

In the AHL this season, Ho-Sang has scored one goal and six points through 10 games. After putting up some very impressive seasons in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and the Niagara Ice Dogs (including three seasons with upwards of 80 points and a 32-goal campaign) Ho-Sang has proven that he is a skilled player. If he can put it all together at the next level, he could have a very successful career – as it stands, he’ll need to fine-tune his game to earn himself a regular spot in the Bridgeport lineup, and then potentially the Islanders lineup.

Jack Johnson Bankruptcy Settlement

It’s been well-documented that Jack Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets has had to go through a tumultuous time financially over the last few years. After giving his financial power of attorney to his parents, the two borrowed money in large amounts which still causes damage to the defender to this day, and has soured his relationship with his parents. Roughly two years after the news broke of Johnson’s financial crisis, it appears he’s finally reached an agreement to settle most of his debts.

 

The 29-year-old defenseman has reached an agreement that will require him to pay most of the $5 million average annual salary that he earns from the Blue Jackets over the next two seasons – including the 2016-17 season – to six of his eight creditors. Johnson will be keeping $246,000 from each year’s salary for “living expenses.” Additionally, Johnson has already liquidated two homes, one in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and one in Manhattan Beach, California, as well as a Ferrari valued at $125,000.

Four of Johnsons’ creditors will receive 10 percent of his future earnings should he sign a contract worth over $4.5 million per season that lasts at least three seasons.

John Tortorella Reaches out to Ryan Reaves

John Tortorella has made headlines once again with the media – but this time, it appears the media took his comments out of context. Following the Blue Jackets game with the St. Louis Blues, Tortorella described Blues forward Ryan Reaves as an “animal” following his fight with Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno. The comment was perceived as a racial slur, though that wasn’t the case. Tortorella has since reached out to Reaves, though the Blues forward didn’t think it was even necessary.

“I saw the comments,” Reaves said according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. “It’s exactly what’s wrong now. People blow nothing into something real quick. It didn’t even cross my mind that it was something even remotely disrespectful to me.”

Tortorella relayed some of the discussion he had with Reaves for the media.

He said, ‘You didn’t have to call me. I told him what was meant, and he says, ‘I know that.’ We had a great conversation. We play them (on Saturday). I told him I hope we kick the hell out of the Blues, but I hope he has a great rest of the year.

That comment is respect for that player, what he has to do. It’s one of the hardest jobs in our league every night, and so I have total respect for him. That’s the part of the comment that people have run with, but it was really meant as a compliment to that young man in St. Louis.

– John Tortorella

While the Blue Jackets head coach may have his questionable moments when interacting with the media, the reaction to his most recent comments, however, were blown out of proportion. Portzline also mentioned that Tortorella has described other players as “animals” in the past, including his own goaltender in Sergei Bobrovsky and Jared Boll.

Odds & Ends

– Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian expects to play in Sunday’s game while Mat Hendricks isn’t yet ready, but hopes to be ready for the team’s upcoming road trip, per Reid Wilkins.

– Mike Blunden has been sent to the AHL, per the Ottawa Senators official Twitter account