Toronto Maple Leafs: Which PTO Makes the Cut, Gusev or Ho-Sang?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some choices to make before submitting their 2021-22 opening night roster.

One of those choice will be deciding whether or not to sign Josh Ho-Sang and/or Nikita Gusev who are currently on professional tryouts at Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.

Josh Ho-Sang was a first round selection by the New York Islanders (28th overall) in the 2014 NHL entry draft.  He recorded 24 points in 53 NHL games and 123 points in 178 AHL games during his time with the Islanders.

Nikita Gusev led the KHL in points during the 2018-19 season with 82 points in 62 games.  He then put up 44 points in 66 games during his first NHL season in 2019-20 with the New Jersey Devils, but then had only 10 points in 31 games during the 2020-21 NHL season split between the Devils and Florida Panthers.

Toronto Maple Leafs PTOs

Both players are battling it out at training camp for a spot with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.  The Leafs current have 49 players signed to NHL contracts with the maximum allowed being 50 contracts.  Unless a trade is made, there’s not room for both Josh Ho-Sang and Nikita Gusev on the team.

Which Toronto Maple Leafs PTO Makes the Cut?

The odds of a PTO player getting an NHL contract are very low.  Only about 6%-19% of PTO’s have converted into NHL contacts each year over the past few seasons.

If you play the odds, the chances of either of these players making the Toronto Maple Leafs roster looks pretty slim.  If either of these players has a chance though, it’s Josh Ho-Sang.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been giving Josh Ho-Sang great opportunities to show that he can stick with the team.  Early in camp he was playing with John Tavares and Michael Bunting where he showed glimpses of brilliance.

Ho-Sang also assisted on all three of Bunting’s powerplay goals during the duo’s second preseason game then without John Tavares.  Recently in training camp, Ho-Sang has been paired with Bunting and Kirill Semyonov on a projected fourth line.

Nikita Gusev has spent most of training camp on what was projected as a possible fourth line with David Kämpf and Ondřej Kaše.  While Kämpf and Kaše are now working on a possible third line with Alex Kerfoot, Nikita Gusev now finds himself playing with Mikhail Abramov and Brett Seney who are two players seemingly destined for the Marlies.

Gusev has only been able to muster one assist in two preseason games so far, but did score twice on the powerplay and in the shoot out during the Blue vs White scrimmage.  I don’t think that’s enough to warrant a contract however.

My best guess is that Josh Ho-Sang will at least earn himself a contract within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.  I think it’ll be a two-way deal at league minimum or very close to it.  I’m betting he starts in the NHL though.

At this point, I don’t see Nikita Gusev being awarded a contract at all within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.  I could see him returning to the KHL this season.

I wish both players the best of luck, and we’ll have to wait and see what happens at the end of training camp.  I’m sure the Toronto Maple Leafs will make the right decision.