CONFIRMED: BAILEY STAYING WITH THE ISLANDERS
Josh calls Windsor coach to tell him the news
11:20 pm - While the Islanders are saying they are planning for an announcement on Saturday, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League had one of their own today. Josh Bailey is not returning to his junior club, the Spitfires announced during their game on Friday night.
Bailey called his Windsor coach, Bob Boughner, before the OHL game on Friday to break the news. Said Boughner, the former NHL defenseman: “It’s not the phone call you want to get.”
The news is not a stunner, especially after the 19-year old center played more than 19 minutes in today’s loss in Boston.
Said Boughner, “We’re happy for Josh because we’re trying to send guys to the next level, but this leaves a big hole for us.” The Spitfires are 23-3-0.
When Jim Parker of the Windsor Star called the Islanders for verification of the story, the Islanders said they had no plans for an announcement on Friday. Read Parker’s story here.
The Islanders host Ottawa on Saturday night. The game will be Bailey’s 10th of the season, and the first year of his three-year entry-level contract will kick in.
Reaction?
74 Responses to “CONFIRMED: BAILEY STAYING WITH THE ISLANDERS
Josh calls Windsor coach to tell him the news”
Please Wait
YEEEEHAWWWWW!!!!
Congrats to Bailey. He’s been one of the few bright spots thus far and doesn’t appear to be on the roster to prove that Snow and Jankowski made wise moves to trade down and get extra picks at the draft. Time will tell (over the years) on that but early returns are good. Any idea when KO will be back in the lineup and who will sit?
With his vision with the puck that he has shown, I think that it would be a step backwards for him to play with and against players with lesser skill levels. If he is playing 15-20 minutes with the big boys and getting a chance to spend time with another natural playmaker like Weight his game should continue to solifify throughout the year. If only we had more players to actually put those beautiful passes in the net. Congrats Josh.
good news. just reposting what i said before:
well, on a side note, did anyone go to the sond tigers game. very very entertaining. thye won 4-1 against harvard. sillinger scored. they looked lazy but brought the tempo up in the third ( ironic huh )there was also a fight where a guy was going around cheapshoting and then someone finally stodd up. he got the TD and got the crowd alive, not just with the fight but acknowledged us. (wish fritz would do that) it was an energetic game and wherever you sit, its a perfect view
and this too:
btw for a team thats supposed to be in last, Gordon is doing a hell of a job. don’t talk about firing or rehiring Nolan. you sound ridiculous
Good move by the Isles. He will play in this system for the entire season, get quality coaching (we hope) and most importantly give us fans something to watch
All I’ll say is congrats to somebody who looks like a really good kid. I hope he gets the best pads/helmet available… becasue his Jersey will say, “KICK ME” on the back.
…and nobody wants to rehire Nolan. damage already done.
i was late to post so i had to get my 2 cents in =)
besides ur the guy who keeps bringing up nolan anyway…
OK, ignore the past, rewrite history, talk about how great we are and will be and hang out with other ostriches to confirm yur beliefs.
We did a huge disservice to this kid today.
The grooming of prospects by this club continues to be awful to criminal. Bailey could have gotten 80-100 points best case, say? Well, it dropped with this latest news to 50-60 now. And it’ll take a while to see how hi skill is not fully developed in one aspect of the game and then we can realize how his great passing and vision is hampered because he was rushed into oblivion.
I am speculating, and the fact is he COULD BE solid and ready, but where a successful prospect MACHINE like Detroit wouldn’t look at him until he developed a year or two, we rush him foreward to sell seats and pat ourselves on the back for gambling on his development if he can get 30 points by age 21.
Is it smart to be cautious and prudent and ensure he is AS GOOD AS HE CAN BE IN HIS CAREER CHOICE or is it good enough to assume he’s solid enough to develop in the NHL at a faster pace with more pressure and far more distraction than at juniors?
Are we making yet another good prospect turn into yet another Mapletoft/Papineau/Watt/Isbust/etc.?
I wish we prized Bailey and his ilk as our FUTURE by letting them wait until they’re absofriggenlutely ready in every aspect of a complex game (unless you’re a roto-hockey stat freak who loves kids as could be’s).
If you agreed with anything this organization did I think the Internet would explode.
good for bailey but i agree with you dp’s bad hip. we did it to okposo too. we will just have to wait and see
They would have been fools to send Bailey down.
and develop? gotta disagree strummer
Developing only makes sense when there’s something to prove at that level. Bailey doesn’t look lost at this level, and in fact he’s proven to be quite an asset to the team. Putting a guy back where he’s a big fish could end up damaging him more, and this was the right move at this time.
Plenty of young players develop very well at the NHL level. It depends on the make up of the player and how the team is using them. Bailey is further physically along then Connolley when he came up. He is stronger mentally too. The reason the Isles have failed so horribly in developing their players is they’d bring them up and not give them much ice time. So they weren’t playing big minutes some where but were expected to develop while playing -7-10 minutes per night. They are giving the young players ice time now so that isn’t an issue.
No- they brought them up and gave them ice time, they often just didnt get adequate direction and development.
eased into things justr seems better then rushed. i am the last guy to say he is out of place. he looks great, sets up ppl perfectly and has great hocley sense a but i dont see the positives of playing him now but only see the positives of him playing in juniors
We didn’t draft Papineau. Bailey desevres to be here. What kind of message does that send if we send him down? “You have done a wonderful job kid but we are going to send you down. You are commenting on Okposo like he has already failed. Really out there comments…
This can obviously be argued from both points of view, and both would be valid. I’m in anti-organization mode so:
1. If Bailey was dropped into a team that needed a 12 minute third line center it would be a stretch to stretch him right now. this is not that team. Nielsen is that third line center about to be the second line center.
2. If he was getting good coaching this would be a good move. I bet Capuano is doing soem good work with the guys in bridgeport because he has wiggle room. In this house when you make a mistake you get beaten like a flatulent flea hound.
3. this is never gonna be about Bailey until he leaves this circus. Four years form now this poor kid will have gone through the most exhausting and injury filled three years of his life… and from his history he will come out of it like a champ… for somebody else. Always holding the Islanders responsible for keeping him from a junior and WORLD JUNIOR championship.
4. If he can play in the AHL whne Okposo and and Sillinger come back, he should, but I don’ think he can.
5. If Snow sticks to his guns and doesn’t let him go to the World Juniors he will be cutting off his center to spite his canada. Wrong… and it will bite him in the arse.
6. this organization is LOADED with undersized forwards. Figren, Rahkshani, Tambellini, Bergy, Nielsen, even Okposo and Comeau play small. This just isn’ the place to be for a 19 year old kid. He’s just gonna get beat on.
7. Maybe HE doesn’t have a lot to gain from playing on a team that’s gonna be infinity and 2… but maybe getting some winning in wouldn’t be bad.
8. Where does this put Nielsen when he comes back… or does the ringmaster know more than he lets on.
9. He wants to be in the NHL. What 19 year old kid wouldn’t want to be in teh NHL. What 19 year old kid wouldn’t want to be driving in a car with Dany Heatley. That’s why GROWN UPS help them make their decisions. But the Islanders are full of irresponsible grown-ups.
10. What happens when Exilby spears him in little beatle bailey… and all his teammates run under the bench… Welcome to the NHL son… you’re all alone on THE ISLAND.
Kevin, it is just on a player-by-player basis. There would be several guys it would be a huge mistake for. Connelly and Pyatt were two guys who shouldn’t have been playing then. If they rushed Josenu (who I am a huge fan of and is playing very well) right now it would be a mistake. Same for guys like Kohn and ANDY MacDonald or Marchinko. Bailey has IT.
The team will get better as Okposo, Nielsen, Dipeitro and Sillinger come back. Plenty of guys to like but unfortunetly plenty of guys not too.
I am a Comeau fan but I disagree with calling him up right now. What I have read said he hasn’t fully grasped the system down in Bridgeport and isn’t playing near where he is capable but is playing pretty good. They said as soon as Capauno says he’s ready he’ll be back and I am sure that is before the end of the year. I think when he does come back he’ll be an Isle for a long time.
“Developing only makes sense when there’s something to prove at that level.”
Very good response. Absolutely incorrect, but a good response.
If there are 212 vital skills to have in one’s game and Bailey shows he’s exceptional at 6, can hack it at 58 and is not showing anything much if at all for the remaining 148…..do you send him down to work on them or acknowledge he’s great at those in the college circuit so he’ll work at those skillsets at the most intense level in the sport?
His skills ned improving or you’re happy with how good they are and want him to play.
Well, good enough has NEVER been good enough in recent Islander prospect history. Time to DO MORE AND EXPECT MORE>
or continue being the Islanders TMC defends til death as the best team (in 28th place) in the world (until there’s a tie for 28th).
I wish fans would one day demand better and, dare I say, not show up until they get it. Like Detroit fans did once…..ask Mike Ilitch.
oh, Papineau was never going to be a good player. Just the case of Milbury making ANOTHER bad deal and then really hyping the guy.
Bailey can be sent down without having to clear waivers, the only thing this means is the first year of his contract has kicked in. I understand some fans reluctance to want him to stay up but I think he will get good ice time and the way he looks develop properly. You are right I don’t think there is a clear right or wrong, just opinion. I do know if Snow sent him down he would have got panned by most including Logan.
“…the Islanders TMC defends til death as the best team (in 28th place) in the world (until there’s a tie for 28th).”
Mind telling me where that happened? Quit pulling stupid made-up garbage out of your five hole. This is supposed to be about Josh Bailey- not you trolling out and making up dumb crap.
Absolutely strummer. Someone was referring to him as a pick we rushed to develop when all he was was another blind trade by Milbag.
I think a lot of us demand better. But if we stop showing up for games we can kiss this team we are all up at one oclock in the morning posting about on a Friday night goodbye.
Then I read the rest of the commets here. Sorry Chris Botta… I love your blog- I really do- you are reasonable and level headed. However, the stuff that is being posted here today by some of these “fans” is just ridiculous.
No one would (ok no writer would) blame Snow if he sent Bailey down if he didn’t look ready and wasn’t performing so well. 5pts in 9 games, there aren’t many others on the roster producing those types of numbers. Bailey clearly looks like he belongs now. What is scary is how much better he looks then many of the other guys on the roster. I think had Snow sent Bailey down just for the sake of doing it then he would have been rightfully picked apart but Snow made the right choice.
Yes, I worry about all the Islanders being targets. We’ve seen it all year and discussed it here numerous times. It is why Nielsen and Okposo and to a larger extent DiPietro isn’t playing right now. For some reason Snow and Gordon cannot see it, when the entire rest of the world can and I hope they correct is very soon.
I know we’re pretty much a mortal lock to disagree on everything related to this team, but don’t patronize me and don’t twist my words in an attempt to sound smart.
Developing at the Junior level doesn’t make sense to me when you excel at everything you need to be successful at that level. After watching Bailey I don’t believe he has anything to gain by going down to Juniors for the rest of the year. He would remember that he had a good amount of success at the NHL level and then dominated down in Juniors. Sounds like a potential recipe for complacency and taking a step back next season. Even the most mentally tough people could take the limited sample and see this good enough with which you’re suddenly obsessed. Spending the full season and experiencing the ups and downs at the NHL level should guide his development and show him those skills he doesn’t yet have to be an elite player in the league. Hopefully that would motivate him to come back next year having worked on it.
The kid deserves a shot to develop at the highest level, because he’s earned it. You don’t send someone in an advanced degree program back to high school if they have trouble with a class.
Just opinions Chris TMC, take it easy. Some of it is pretty good though.
Absolutely. I believe he has a natural maturity in the way he plays. Looks comfortable on the ice and makes some incredible passes to people that can’t finish. We do need to get some protection for him.
Well put Nick. Bailey belongs. Isles fans take a breath…. watch him develop.
Can Bailey play competently at the NHL level? It looks that way.
Should he? Noooooooooooo!
Garth Snow has taken his eye off the prize. He will waste Bailey’s age-19 season playing with a team that frankly needs to finish as low as possible and weed out people who can’t play in Gordon’s system.
Folks, this is not a good team. The only way it’s going to be better is to be really bad. Keeping Bailey may make them just good enough to keep from getting a premier player (Tavares or Hedman) in the draft.
I also hate bringing up talented young players (which Bailey is) to play on bad teams. He’ll take a pounding on a team of undersized forwards.
Chris TMC,
Probably you and everybody else posting here will wish that the Islanders never lose again when I’m off and my mother-in-law is in town and my drinking buddies aren’t…
But you gotta love the fact that CB has given us this wonderful forum to vent our OPINIONS (no matter how ridiculous everybody else’s are :-))
I think it’s great that we have a place to talk about the team we all love and when you add CB’s insight… come on man, what’s better than that.
I was trolling around the boston blogs trying to find that damn video that I seem to be the only person that saw… and nothing but a bunch of “we rule” and “Montreal sucks” posts.
This board has guys like Nick (who I think is the same nick) who is fighting tooth and nail to get the Lighthouse built… and assorted guys with some great opinions.
It’s a good read…
Well.. that’s MY OPINION.
We all want a good draft pick but do you really believe that we should send Bailey down because he is going to make us to good?
That is really out there…..
LOL.
Have coached a lot of kids of all ages (disclaimer baseball, not hockey), but one thing that I have learned is that everyone, regardless of age, will eventually play to the level of competition they are placed in.
I think that we can all agree that the NHL is a higher caliber of play than Junior Hockey.
I think we can all agree that Josh Bailey is capable of playing in the NHL.
To send him back down to Junior level of hockey would impede his development, cuz I just can’t see him IMPROVING over Junior caliber when he is clearly beyond that already…..ESPECIALLY if he goes to a team that is already 23-3.
Better for Bailey to PLAY UP his abilities and learn here.
Just my opinion, from two time zones away.
And why exactly can’t a kid who has show he can play at this level develop here. Let me ask those who are LIVID about this something. What would scoring 100 points against many kids younger then himself do for Bailey’s development. The answer is nothing. I would have preffered a stop at the AHL level but we all know that is not possible. So I see no harm in letting a kid stay who can thread the needle like he did to Chris Campoli in Montreal. He has absolutely NOTHING left to prove at BPT.
I’d be right there with those that are angry had Bailey shown he doesn’t belong anywhere near the NHL. That simply is not the case. And outside of the 37 year old Weight, I’d say he is our most talented player. Probably not what Isles brass likes to read, but it is true. Good for our future, pretty sad for our present. We all knew the present was gonna be like this though.
oops I slipped and said he has nothing left to prove at BPT. LOL. I meant juniors obviously. Dopey.
JPinVa:
Are you sure you are an Islander fan?
DOC
Post #21 is probably one of the worst posts I’ve read on here.
YOu are always predicting who’s going to hurt who… and how it’s going to be done.
This is hockey… and so far on this team, I’ve seen the Islanders sticking up for each other. They are not the greatest fighters in the league except for Fritz (another issue) but Bergenheim, Hunter, Guerin, Witt, Jackman have all come to their teammates aide.
Bergy went after Chara tonight… jeeez… what more do you want?
DOC
Doc, this team doesn’t always stand up for their teammates & themselves.
Jaffe nailed it yesterday, with time winding down & Michael Ryder goal hanging to get his hat trick. Someone needed to put him on his ass, and nobody did.
And let’s not forget the travesty that was Mottau’s hit on Nielsen. Where was the retribution for that one?
Think back to the early 90’s. Guys like Pilon, Kaspar, Vukota & Bomber would have been all over those 2 guys within seconds.
As for Bailey, it was a no-brainer. He could very well be this team’s best player by the end of the season.
You’re right… it seems that sometimes they forget how to do it… it depends on who is on the ice. They were a defeated team yesterday at the end of the game… and did not stand up for each other.
Jaffe was right. I think that whole wear the sweater with pride happens when you have a team that is made up of players that have been brought up through the system. Drafted by the islanders and then culture of defending the sweater is in-grained.
DOC
Some of these comments are embarrassing to read. Bailey going down and dominating helps him how? You get better by playing against the best players in the world. Not by dominating kids you are already head and shoulders better then. Plus he has been producing up here and really shows he belongs. I guess there are just some know it all oout there who in reality don’t know anything.
Mazel Tov to Josh Bailey.
I think that its a shame in some ways that we have to use the NHL team as a developmental team- but clearly - its the right move. I think if the fans set reasonable expectations for Josh - that he can grow and thrive even if he has to learn on the job. You can’t go “Tambellini” on him this first year - because Jeff is a lot older and HAS to prove he is no longer a prospect AND no longer a SUSpect. Bailey is still a PROSPECT - but a damned good one — wish the rules allowed him to play at Bridgeport.
Players develop at different rates. And a poster correctly pointed out that we CAN send Bailey back to Windsor at any time - its just that now - he has used up one year of the entry level contract. THe significance is that he can become an UFA a year earlier now than he could have if we returned him to OHL.
Lets not wickedly over-react to yesterday’s defeat as we have another game tonight…..but its clear to me that there are precious few players on this NHL team that are part of the long range solution. CB is right - the answers are within our system…..and its a long range solution…..but congrats to Josh for making the team. Bailey for sure - is part of the solution…..and so is Okposo.
Pat
Doc, I go back to my favorite Isles team ever, the ‘92-’93 squad. That team had some homegrown guys (Pilon, LaChance, Flatley, etc..) but the core guys were bought in via trades or FA (Steve Thomas, Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp, etc..). All of these guys were proud to wear the Isles logo on their chests - you don’t have to be from the ’system’ to be proud to wear the sweater. Maybe the difference was coaching. Regardless, these guys better start standing up to other teams, otherwise we’re going to continue to get guys hurt since opponents will have no fear of retribution after they take someone out or do something questionable.
you guys have to learn not to get to low when things go bad while at the same time not get overly excited when the isles win a handful in a row
we just injected 3 d-men back into the lineup so its going to take a little while to get them on the same page
I would have been ok keeping bailey up or sending him down .I guess my concern becomes how many minutes does he get when Sillinger and Comrie are both back in the lineup -however , I think the kid will earn his icetime and soak up the good things the likes of Weight can teach him on and off the ice .
just take it one game at a time fellow fans
I’m mixed on this decision. Bailey looks lik a keeper and hasn’t looked at all out of place with the big club. The year spent up with the Isles will give him a chance to develop in Gordon’s system and hone his game against the big boys.
That being said I worry that the attitude in the locker room will deteriorate as the season moves on and the losses pile up given our clear lack of talent. Is this the environment we want to throw a 19 year old rookie into?
No matter what happens this season, with Josh on the team I will have something to look forward to every game. We need players like him to bring excitement to the game.
I just picked up Bailey on my Yahoo Fanatasy waiver wire, but I think he should have been sent back. Another year wouldn’t hurt him and he could have hit some real milestones in his career with a Memorial Cup and a World Jr. Medal.
Again Rick you are right about not having to be brought through the farm to be proud of the jersey you wear… but I think with this current squad there has been too much turnover in the last 2-4 years to culture the “pride” in the jersey that we fans expect journeymen to have immediately.
There are always exceptions to that rule.
DOC
Dear Garth: Can I quote you NOW???? Thank you.
In my opinion Bailey is a classic example of the Islanders and the fan base overating the young players. I mean, he has been okay, but he isn’t Crosby. He hasd a CHANCE to be a good player. We are acting like Bailey is the talk of the league, and he hasn’t been. Why? Because he hasn’t done a whole lot yet. Relax on this kid.
Hey JP….yes, same guy from Newsday. Sorry we never met up in DC for that Caps/Rags game last year.
Good job CB. While there would have been little downside to Bailey playing major minutes in junior, captaining a powerhouse, playing in the WJC and possibly the Memorial Cup…..he deserves to be here. Really smart, terrfic passer, competes; he definitely looks like an NHL player. I feel much better about the ‘08 Draft now then I did last June.
Jim, to me it’s a lot simpler than that. For me, this is a kid who’s shown he deserves to play in the NHL right now being given a chance to show us what he has for a full season. For a player at his level of development, I think it would really help his growth as a player to see that he isn’t Crosby and has to work on X, Y, and Z to get there.
When Speaking of Bailey..”Erin Go Bragh”,
Or
“Kiss the “Blarney Stone” is more like it !
Good Luck Bailey.
May you stay in One Piece,
(Coach Gordon Great System,Soft Approach )
you are a Big Part Of Our Future!
Lets Go Isles… Lets Go Islanders!!
The kid has played well enough to earn his spot. Maybe now his game could possibly improve a bit because you know he had nerves about whether he was staying or going. He’s a smart hockey player with great vision on the ice. They said before he was drafted he could develop into a cross between Bryan Trottier and Mats Sundin. Who wouldn’t love to see that? He’s not here to justify Garth for trading down to draft him. He’s here because he earned it.
As for the Nolan talk earlier in the comments here - mark my words, guaran-damn-teed - Ted Nolan does not EVER coach again in the NHL. He did a very good job when he was here, but the way his tenure ended didn’t do anything to help his already smeared reputation throughout the league.
Off topic, but with the awful 3d periods we’ve had this year, its time to question whether Overspeed can be effective over 60 mins at the NHL pace (over 82 games and playoffs no less). I know Gordon had success at the AHL, but this team looks like its out of gas after 40 mins. Chris - maybe a future post you can ask some of your NHL contacts their thoughts on this?
Well first of all I think it’s great news. Congrats to Josh and we wish him good luck. Like most here, I think he can develop better up here than in Juniors as well. He will learn what he needs to do to play in the system we have and he will not develop bad habits. I would hope that our leaders such as Guerin, Weight, Witt and Sillinger, to name a few, would take care of the guy and be the mentors they are here to be. He can work on his skating and other things he needs to work on during the year and in the off season, ala Hunter. The non- having each others’ backs makes me the most nervous right now. We have seen them play as a “team” this year. Where one player gets taken down and they all come over and get the fur up. Yet we have seen them look like one big friggin brain fart as well. Like they are strangers and each one is playing a different game and wearing blinders. I don’t know why. It seems like maybe they are supposed to follow a rule about when to stick up for a mate and when to let it go and they are confused about it or something, because it doesn’t make sense. But I do think whoever said they were worried about the locker room attitude by the end of the season was a little premature with that. They guys know what level they are. The leaders will need to make sure the focus is kept on improving the things they need to work on and taking some pride in (and keep doing) the things they can do well. Learn and improve and don’t look back except to help with learning and improving. I seriously doubt they all just give up because they are a losing team. OK I’m babbling now.
sending Bailey down would not help his development. the OHL (offensive hockey league) plays no defence. look at Stamkos, you put him against a defence and he has done nothing. And look at Stamkos old linemates. they are still scoring at will. since Bailey can’t go to Bridgeport for development, he will learn just fine hear.
You really do not get the whole picture until you have spoken to a person - honestly. Being fortunate enough to speak to Josh Bailey regularly - the kid wants to be here and wants to succeed.
Playing in junior and winning is great - but awards and accolades are gained as a team - not individually, Josh understands that. This is not a classic “too soon” rush job - Josh Bailey has talent and is helping the Islanders. If he wasn’t - he would not be here.
And to the poster who claims there are “212 vital skills” that make up a hockey player - I would like a list. It’s too easy to use in an argument without providing detail.
The kid doesn’t look out of place with the big club, and its not like he going to sit behind a bunch of vets and not get ice time. He needs to stay.
Stamkos - 22GP 2G 6A 8Pts
Bailey - 9GP 0G 5A 5Pts
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=395094
Some very good give and take here. Have to admit I was surprised to see all the negative talk about keeping Josh up.
I’d submit that this is another example of how hard the organization has to work to re-gain the collective trust of the fan base and heal the still festering wounds of the MM era.
I hate when people put a blanket statement on people and assume the people who are complaining he’s not back in junior are the same ones who would be saying “The Isles are cheap” if Garth sent him back. Truth is they are most likely the exact opposite factions.
It just goes to show you that there are many different opinions and many different levels of trust among the base. On thanksgiving my wife’s uncle kept telling me “there’s no way they keep him up, Wang is cheap.” I let it go cause I didn’t feel like bringing u the Yashin buyout. The point is that every “negative nellie” isn’t necessarily overly negative about the same things.
In my opinion I hear the concerns but I’d submit that this isn’t 1996 anymore. You needn’t be at least 25 years old and 230 pounds to be able to survive dragging Bobby Holik through the nuetral zone. There are players 20 and under sprinkled all around the league getting by on speed skill and smarts. Young players are coached coming up more extensively than ever on systems and responsibility. Josh Bailey probably has more intellectual understandinmg of positioning, etc. than players of 20 years ago developed in an entire NHL career.
I would love to see him skate with a guy who could handle the roguh stuff if need be. Seeing him get run by a Hollweg type would turn my stomach. But it’s not like the OHL is some goon free paradise where skills are massaged and groomed and everyone is just looking to make a sweet saucer pass.
This is hockey. Not for the faint of heart no matter your age.
The argument that Detroit wouldn’t even look at him for 2 years is an interesting one. But if Chicago knocks them off this year with 19 year olds in theri lineup will that change anything in the posters opinion? Yes, Detroit is the drafting and developing model but times change and the league has been changing.
I too, from the start leaned toward returning Josh simply because of the 7 years of service to UFA rule. But to tell you the truth it’s not really a concern for me because i think the org. loves the kid so much that they will work to lock him up long term way before 2015/16 or 2016/17. So for that reason I’m not too concerned.
Finally I will say that I don’t thinmk you can have iot both ways…you can’t say “he’s not exactly tearing it up or the talk of the league” and then turn around and write this off as some sort of ticket selling scam.
Bottom line is that those of us who are gonna buy tix this year have pretty much already done it. As for everyone else, go walk around Roosevelt Field and ask 100 people who Josh Bailey is and i doubt more than 2 or 3 could give you an answer and they’ve probably got their tix already as well.
Good Luck to Josh!
Good Take. Valid Hypothesis, Well Said!
Lets Go Isles!
Doc,
Obviously you didn’t read the first line of #21. I respect your opinion, but there are definitely two sides to this one.
I will personally say that if he can go to Bridgeport (which now I’m pretty sure he can), then it is a good move for everyone involved.
When Sillinger, Comrie and eventually Nielsen are back, Bailey cna be in Bridgeport helping them win a Calder Cup(?).
My spin on a team standing up for one another is EXACTLY what Bergy, Hunter and Guerin have been doing. Jackman didn’t even stand up for himself because he would have looked like a raw sausage when Lucic was through with him. Sutton has a bad hand, and eventually non fighter one wheel Witt had to take the beating.
It’s not the players, it’s the coach(and the GM) for not responding to the issue earlier. This team will be lost to Gordon if he doesn’t get their backs.
Maybe he didn’t put Fritz on the ice in Jersey to protect Weight… but what he did has been going on for a long time… Since MAR 8, 2007. Don’t make me rehash all of that crap.
This team has no guts, from the top! From the bottom, they are doing their best, but they are starting to lose their grip. Sutton standing there while Jackman was laying on the ground… THAT PICTURE WAS WORTH A 1,000,000 words. But here’s 3. GORDON MUST GO. I won’t use them just yet, because he deserves a few more chances… but if the TEAM(?) continues like this, it has to be on the coach.
AND YES, I am an Islander fan. I’m not so happy with the way the team has been run for 15 years, but I will always be an Islander fan.
Doc, you nailed it. Too much turnover for it to really have an effect. But hopefully with a core of Bailey/KO/Campoli, we can get back to that sooner then later.
Hey Sexy,
Great post… but I’d do something about that handle.
I told you yesterday he can go to Bridgeport
without having to clear waivers…. The only reason people were apprehensive was his first year kicking in.
Campoli?
I think keeping Bailey here doesn’t make any sense. He’s gonna be a great player, but I would rather have him develop more with a winning team than with our team that’s really struggling right now.