PRE-GAME: Ottawa at NYI, 7:05 pm
Bailey set..No KO…Comrie not close
11:50 am – The Islanders made it official on Josh Bailey with a press release this morning. The lead sentence reads Bailey “will remain with the Islanders for the 2008-09 season.” I would take that to mean – as Greg Logan foreshadowed with Garth Snow a week ago – that Kirill Petrov has a better chance of playing for Team Canada at the WJC than Bailey does.
Since Bailey started playing in the NHL, I’ve been firmly in the camp that he should stay under Scott Gordon’s tutelage for the rest of the season, that there was no point in sending him back to 23-3-0 Windsor. Of the team’s apparent stance that Bailey is 100% Islander and will not have the three-week Team Canada experience, I’m not completely sure that’s the way to go.
More than buying the Islanders some decision-time with Mike Sillinger (probably) and Mike Comrie (skated today, so eventually) returning, Bailey playing a vital role on Team Canada at a WJC in Ottawa would be an extraordinary opportunity for him. The experience would likely stick with him more than playing the Thrashers three weeks from Tuesday. Then again, Team Canada is already without top defensemen Drew Doughty (LA) and Luke Schenn (Toronto), so it’s possible Bailey may not miss out on a gold medal.
Bailey met the Islanders and Ottawa press this morning, displaying the poise and maturity that’s kept him here. He revealed honestly that the first few games, “I didn’t want the puck as much – now I want it and have the confidence to hold on to it to make the right play.” He spoke of how veterans likes Doug Weight and Bill Guerin have provided invaluable leadership. He announced that he was moving in with Kyle Okposo, Nate Thompson and Bruno Gervais. He said he was moving out of the Marriott, which he liked, but “it won’t be an emotional goodbye.”
As for playing on Team Canada in Ottawa, Bailey said, “I knew it would be a fun thing, but I’m totally okay with that. No matter what the team decides, I know it’s what’s best for me.”
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Okposo Out: The Islanders had a morning meeting, but not a morning skate. The healthy Thomas Pock and the injured Comrie and Kyle Okposo skated. Gordon said the team had hoped to have Okposo back this weekend, but now it won’t be until next week. (After tonight, the Islanders do not have a game until next Thursday).
Comrie Return Not Imminent: Mike Comrie had a lengthy discussion with reporters after his skate this morning about his return from offseason hip surgery. The end result, as far as we could decipher, is that his return is not near. Comrie said his goal is to come back and be the player he was at the start of last season when he was healthy and contributing on a nightly basis.
ETC: Same lineup against Ottawa tonight as yesterday in Boston. With Sillinger (goal last night in Bridgeport’s win over Hartford) likely back tomorrow, the roster could have changes before the Islanders’ next game – Thursday in Washington…“NY Hockey This Week” will be on 1050 ESPN Radio after Syracuse Football today at approx. 4:00 pm. Don La Greca and I have a quarterly report on the Islanders, Devils and Rangers.
UPDATED, 2:00 pm - Yann Danis recalled from Bridgeport to back up Joey MacDonald. Peter Mannino back to the AHL. We really must start redaing those game notes!
Talk about Bailey, tonight’s game and all thing Islanders in Comments.
27 Responses to PRE-GAME: Ottawa at NYI, 7:05 pm
Bailey set..No KO…Comrie not close
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Sab says:
Congrats To Josh! I agree with ya Chris (and it’s not just cause I’m a Canuck hehe) that he should be part of team Canada…but most GM’s like to hold the kids these days…
On another note….do you think we close to burning Joey Mac out??? Danis had a great game in the Bridge from all reports last night….perhaps he should have another shot to start a game?? Thoughts?
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Macch says:
With his progress so far, sending him back would only hinder his development. A good move by the Isles. He can only get better with his confidence growing every game.
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KP says:
Sab – No goalie should start 14 games in a row. I’m all in favor of JMac getting a break.
As for Bailey, I love the comment that he wants the puck now. With his “tryout” over, I think he’ll take his game up a notch. The nerves had to be getting to him playing for the start of your NHL career. Now he should be a bit more relaxed on the ice and bring his best game. You have to admit, his first 9 have been good games considering he missed a decent chunk of training camp, was injured and has essentially been playing catch up to the vets yet hasn’t looked out of place one bit.
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MT says:
That would be a fun house/apartment to live in. LOL
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dcdavis says:
I am all for Bailey sticking with the big club. I can’t help but feel the more all the kids play together at this level now, the better off the whole team is in the future.
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Bri on Li says:
Very happy to hear it, but I do think they should reconsider sending him to the WJCs. It would give him an experience similar to Ken Morrow in 1980, albeit less spectacular.
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Matt says:
Great move By management. Refreshing to see
Snow do something that most of the fan base agrees with instead of doing the exact opposite. -
Sorry for double post but its also nice to see the fans rally behind Josh after that draft party debacle where the poor kid got bood. Says a lot about his character how he handled that. Pretty impressive for a 19 year old if you ask me.
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Paul says:
Not shocked at this, especially based on the coach’s comments over the last two weeks. Let’s hope Okposo gets back soon, and the two of them can really start playing together.
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JPinVA says:
You’re right on the mark with your team canada remarks. I’ll go a step further and say that he should be part of the AHL playoffs as well. Anything more than 40 or so NHL games (PLUS the WJC and AHL playoffs) would be a stretch for a 19 year old.
I’m just speculating here, but I think an optimum first year would be:
2nd line when Silly comes back.
Bring Comrie back during the WJC(if that’s possible).
When (if?) Nielsen returns he goes to the AHL to qualify for and get some playoff experience down there.
I know that if he’s lighting up the league by then it would make it almost impossible… but playing with Hunter and Hilbert(?) how bright could that light be. -
CT_Isles_Fan says:
Congrats to Bailey and to GARTH SNOW! He really took a beating after the draft and now we are seeing his pick jump straight in form the OHL.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
I wish Josh scored his first as soon as possible. Good thing – he started to shoot. If he starts scoring, his confidence will boost. Plus it’s alvays nice to see when 19 years old scores against so called “best goalies” in the league. Best of luck to you Josh!
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TuxTax says:
Good move by the Isles! Now let’s get back to the winning ways! Hopefully the team can stop focusing on getting Josh his first goal and start playing like a team and let him get it naturally!
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kevin says:
regarding last article, i don’t think okposo failed or im making that argument, i am just saying that last year he looked great bu twe pressured him and his stats are not that impressive. i just think he would fare better in the ahl. also, i think everyone weither they are for or against him up here knows him and okposo will be great.
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i wish snow talked like burke did. he says how the bottom six guys are plumbers where they do specialty work like blocking shots and fighting and i forgot what the other thing is. then he praises him. i wish our bottom six was like that. we are just missing that one part. hilbert and park are the BS guys
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bruke may try to go for fritz btw. he is not going to play anytime soon with silli and okposo returning soon. can you imagine if that happens and he gives us liek hollweg and a 7th. how ironic would that be
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Justin Izzo says:
Chris, TSN is reporting that the Islanders waived Thomas Pock. Did you hear anything about this?
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JKP in Halifax says:
I think they absolutely should let him go play in the WJC. It would be a good high-pressure situation being played on home turf in Ottawa this year. The media spotlight shines very brightly on that tournament here. It draws some of the biggest ratings in the country.
Of course, as a Canadian, I have some other reasons for wanting him there as well…
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hey justin do u have a link cause i looked for it but couldn’t find it
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mjlisles says:
I am very happy for josh. He deserves this and is going to have a very big impact on this team for years. I would like to see the islanders make some more good moves i.e waiving tambellini and letting comeau take his spot.
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hopefully ( for that one year that they played best) okposo and bailey can click like thornton and cheechoo did for years to come
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randy boyd says:
I think he’d be better off growing up in Windsor and playing for team Canada, although I don’t think this is a monumental mistake, since he seems to have enough poise and maturity that the mess in which he is now involved shouldn’t have a lasting effect on his future.
Maybe in juniors he would learn how to play in the third period and then come back to the island and teach his teamates something that coach Gordon is incapable of.
I hope that he does well here. He seems to have excellent skills and vision. I hope he has a very long and successful career with the Isles.
PS. We need Mitch Fritz. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Lucic bitch slapped us yesterday and there was no answer. Fritz would have been an effective answer.
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Isles72 says:
I’m glad Bailey is staying. He is a mture kid and can continue to learn fromWeight and Sillinger. As for Comrie, see ya. With Weight, Bailey, Sillinger, Neilsen(when he returns) and Thompson, the Isles are fine down the middle. Tme to trade Comrie and Tamby for some real players. Also, noticed Pock is on waivers.
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Joe says:
72 where did you see that? I cant find any info on Pock being on waiver, I hope its true.
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Travelchic59 says:
Congrats to Josh Bailey! I must admit I am torn about letting him go back to play in the WJC tournament. As a Canadian, I am sure he would relish the experience and just maybe get himself a gold medal.
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Mike from Oceanside says:
I think the Islanders made the right move with Bailey. Seems as though the organization is in a youth movement, so then…play the youth. Kid led the forwards in ice time last game. I haven’t noticed an dramatic lapses in his game in the first nine that he’s played, have you? Kid looks more and more comfortable each shift. I predict a 40-45 point season with about a dozen to fifteen goals. Makes next year a bit more appealing, eh?
Congrats to Bailey – he earned his spot on this team. As CB & many others have said already, it makes no sense for him to go back to juniors when he’s not struggling with the Isles system or the speed of the NHL. Let him take his lumps up here – the experience he gains this season will be invaluable to his progression into a big-time playmaker on the NHL level.