Josh Ho-Sang, ex Toronto Maple Leaf’s on Olympic “Long List”

A few players with Toronto Maple Leafs ties appear on a 29 non-NHL player Olympic “long list” that has surfaced originating from Hockey Canada.

The list includes current Toronto Marlies winger Josh Ho-Sang, Former Toronto Maple Leafs Cody Franson, Daniel Winnik and Brendan Leipsic, and former Toronto Marlies Cal O’Reilly and Adam Cracknell.

According to Scott Wheeler of the Athletic, Hockey Canada submitted the list of non-NHL players in October along with their list of NHL players.

Here is the list: Daniel Carr, Adam Cracknell, Josh Ho-Sang, Kent Johnson, Peyton Krebs, Brendan Leipsic,  Brad Malone, Jack McBain ,Mason McTavish ,Cal O’Reilly ,Cole Perfetti ,Jack Quinn, Eric Staal, Chris Terry, Jake Virtanen, Scott Wilson, Chris Bigras, Michael Del Zotto , Jason Demers
Cody Franson, Kaiden Guhle ,Jimmy Oligny, Owen Power ,Tyler Wotherspoon, Phillippe Desrosiers
Devan Dubnyk , Devon Levi, Eduard Pasquale , and Matt Tomkins.

The only player confirmed for Team Canada so far is Owen Power.  Though they appear on the list, Cole Perfetti, Peyton Krebs and Jack Quinn are prohibited from playing in the Olympics since they are signed to NHL contracts.

It is also very unlikely that Brendan Leipsic and Jake Virtanen will join the Canadian Olympic team considering their recent scandals that led to their NHL dismissals.

Could an Olympic appearance earn Ho-Sang a spot with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Playing for Team Canada in the Olympics would be a great opportunity for any of these players looking for NHL jobs.  It would be especially exciting to see what Josh Ho-Sang can do on the international stage.

Ho-Sang seemed very close to making the Toronto Maple Leafs roster out of training camp, and I still wouldn’t count him out from joining the team before the season is through.  An amazing Olympic performance may be enough to finally earn him a spot in the NHL.

I would also be excited to see Cody Franson and Daniel Winnik playing for Team Canada.  I have fond memories of watching both of them with the Toronto Maple Leafs and it would be interesting to see them play again.

Both players haven’t played in the NHL since 2018.  Franson spent the passed few seasons in the AHL and KHL while Winnik has been in the Swiss league.

Hockey Canada’s perspective may have changed considerably since this list was created in October.  All we can do is wait and see what Canada’s final Olympic roster looks like when it’s released before the players hit the ice in Beijing this February.