PRE-GAME POLL: Should Bailey go to the WJC? YES!
Also: Fritz, Callahan in; Thompson, Sutton out
ETC. comes first today: Nate Thompson and Andy Sutton are likely out with the flu. Recalled from Bridgeport are forward Mitch Fritz and - on emergency recall - defenseman Joe Callahan. Okay, that’s it for the pre-game report. Now on to the latest agenda…
For Josh Bailey to have the experience of playing on one of the top two lines for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championships, he would have to report when selection camp opens on Thursday. Since Bailey is a lock for the team, the Islanders would be without the services of their 2008 first round pick from Dec. 11 to Jan. 5 - a span of 13 games.
Our take: if the Islanders love Bailey, they should set him free.
Here are the level-headed cases for and against sending Bailey to the WJC. We will not let our personal view get in the way.
Cons
- Bailey could get seriously injured at the WJC. He could get seriously injured in the NHL.
- He would miss out on three important weeks of the forecheck, the one the Islanders have played to near-perfection in maybe four of 27 games so far.
- His game might get screwed up playing in those bigger international rinks. (Nevermind, the games will be played on the NHL surface of the Ottawa Senators!)
Pros
- The experience of playing big minutes in the pressure-packed atmosphere of a World Junior Championships on home soil is something the next 13 games of the Islanders (10-15-2) could never match.
- Kyle Okposo, his right wing of the present and future, will be sidelined with a wrist injury for the same time period, so it’s not like Bailey is missing out on quality KO time.
- Here’s a three-year list of relevant Canadian forwards who won gold medals and obtained invaluable experience at the WJCs:
2007: Jonathan Toews, Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Darren Helm
2006: Toews, Blake Comeau
2005: Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter - watch them tonight - and Scott’s boy Patrice Bergeron
- In Ben Walter, the Islanders have a playmaking center prospect they can easily slide into Bailey’s place in the lineup. Since Walter is well-schooled in The Ways of Go-Go from their time together in Providence, he should do well.
- If it’s deemed Walter is not ready, check out this quote from Gordon to Logie about the rehabbing Mike Comrie in today’s (The Hockey) Newsday: “If there’s a situation where we needed a player toward the end of the week, then I’d think about bringing him in.”
Holy crap! You think Go-Go was foreshadowing a Bailey-to-Team Canada decision? If Bailey gets his first NHL goal tonight in Philadelphia, there’s no better way to send him off.
What do you think? Are you okay with losing Josh Bailey for 13 games? Do you think the Islanders should let him play for Team Canada? Vote in Comments.
106 Responses to “PRE-GAME POLL: Should Bailey go to the WJC? YES!
Also: Fritz, Callahan in; Thompson, Sutton out”
Please Wait
The way things are going, I’m more than OK with it.
Didn’t Gordon or Snow say that “if Bailey were to remain on the Islanders squad, then he would be expected to ‘be an Islander’ for the season?” That seemed to foreshadow this situation and make it seem that ‘management’ thinks that Bailey should NOT attend the WJC because he’s a pro in the NHL now.
I guess we’ll see what is announced after tonight’s game.
let the boy play ! his time in the WJC would be invaluable to his development. We havn’t exactly been tearing up the nhl this season, so, he won’t be missing much.
Let him play in WJC. Let him have that valuable experience while he still can. He has the rest of his career to play(lose)with the ISLES. Also, its a good excuse to continue losing so we get TAVARES.
TAVARES or BUST 2009
Let him play in the WJC!!!!
It’s an invaluable experience and he will be a better player for it in the future IMO.
I’m all for it. Give the kid some time dominating those within his age group and he’ll be back with a medal and increased confidence next month.
It also gives Walter or Trevor Smith a chance to show his chops at the NHL level.
I’ve posted this before. the perfect situaton would be for Bailey to go to the WJC to get the experience of playing MEANINGFUL hockey.
All of your points make this a no-brainer… so I’m pretty sure Snow will have him in the lineup to spite Team Canada (the only reason to keep him in Uniondale)
Joe Callahan, amazingly(can you taste the SARCASM), is from Scott Gordon’s home town of Brockton, Mass.
I wonder if the next time they need an “enforcer” they will exhume Rocky Marciano and teach him how to skate.
The Long Island Mass Clowns go another round. they bring up fritz to get a good seat to watch somebody run Bailey and comeau… and give another New England Mafia guy 12 minutes of pylon-esque defensive minutes.
Get out your popcorn…
i don’t know, the more nhl experience the better. you really think he’s going to leave a professional hockey team for 13 games to go play juniors? something about that just doesn’t seem right to me. no matter how bad the islanders are playing we’re still talking about an NHL team.
Let him go
Yes. Yes I am.
sure, send him….I’m considering not watching another game this season anyway…what a joke
Let him go, Go-Go.
With the way this team has been playing he deserves a chance to play, as you said, meaningful hockey. This was a large part of why I didn’t think Bailey should have stayed. I didn’t mind a 9 game try-out, taste, etc. The Isles were going to be baaaad; why subject him to that when could be playing good hockey on a good team for most of the season.
It has everything to do with level of play rather than meaning of the games. Bailey’s skills were beyond Juniors in general, but his game is well-suited for the WJC where he can play against the very best in his age group. He clearly graduated from Juniors, and he deserves to stay with the Islanders when the WJC is over, but let him play there. If nothing else we’ll see what he can do when centering guys who can finish.
I would be fine with either decision, really… ike Josh said before his 10th game: its win-win either way.
I say let him go!
Reading between the lines of Gordon’s quote to Logan, seems like that’s the plan. Playing meaningful games in that atmosphere could do wonders for Bailey’s confidence and enthusiasm for the game.
Not like he’ll be missing anything meaningful here.
Garth and Co. have to identify that Bailey would be better served playing in a competitive Championship series vs. 13 games on NYI.
The NHL is the NHL. However, those 13 games should not be detriment to Bailey’s NHL career. How and what Bailey can achieve with his team at the WJC is something that can positively affect a players career.
Send him. He gets good experience and the Isles get closer to the first draft pick.
He’s here learning the system and the NHL game… Let him go for a few weeks, and learn how to be a leader, and WIN.
It could be good PR for the Isles too. Everytime Bailey is mentioned in print during the WJC, they would also mention that he’s an Islander.
The way Josh is playing, he deserves to get some time on the winning team in WJC. His frustration could only get him injured in NHL. If only his place on NYI will be taken by one of the Bridgporters and not Comrie, I’m OK with him leaving for 13 games. Let him score some tallys in the tournament and boost his confidence. We will cheer for him!
I’m fine with him going. He’s been working his butt off for us - he deserves to experience something like the WJC while he can.
Send him. Period.
Let the kid play at WJC. It’s big time pressure for any Canadian kid of be playing in this. We Canucks actually sneak out of our workdays to catch games and see how the boys are doing. Plus… as CB has stated… this team should be rapidly descending (ala Brian Burke) to kick start the ascension with one of the two studs at the draft this year. The focus of the team should be next year… and missing a dozen or so NHL games will not hinder Bailey.
I wanted him to be sent back to juniors after 9 games, so I definitely want him to play in the WJC. That being said, he’s not playing in the WJC, he will be here for the rest of the year.
Absolutely send him, we’re not going anywhere… save the lottery.
I would be fine with whatever the NY Islander’s think. On another note, a few opinions on the the NY Islander’s, I have said this before, In my opinion from an all around talent standpoint, the NY Islander’s have less talent on their team, than any in hockey. So with that said, I believe the NY Islander’s will finish last this season. Thus, solitifying this years #1, (Tavares), Who definately they should take. With the rest of their choices, they should focus on big strong tough players with an edge. They NY Islander’s have enough smaller players. They need to add size and toughness. With that said, back to the talent level of the current club. When you have a superstar or more, they raise the level of the play of all. Examples, Larrence Taylor, Joe Namath, Dennis Potvin, Mike Bossy, Brian Trottier, Tom Seaver, Michael Jordon, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They make everyone around them better. They bring out their best. The NY Islander’s do not have this working for them. great article Chris, Mark
Send him. Now.
Snow made a bad mistake keeping him. He should have sent the kid back to Windsor. Instead, he’s wasting time on a dreadful team while his free-agent clock starts ticking. If Bailey is as good as Snow (and a lot of us) think he is, we’ve just wasted one season of his career.
Let the kid play, also, lets hope for Cote vs. Fritz tonight!
Playing in the NHL is never a wasted year. PERIOD!!! That’s absurd to think that it’s a wasted year. Go through the tough times now and reap the benefits in a year or two.
Whatever, who cares this team is playing horrible! Let him go!
There is no reason for him to be here. He is not ready for the nhl, even the islanders version of it. He should go star at the wjc and then return to his junior team for the rest of the season. Why the rush with this kid I will never understand.
Yes, let the boy play for his country. It’s an honor and a privilege. If the Islanders care about him as much as they say (and I know they do), then do right by the boy. The fans will love the kid (even more) if he comes home with a medal.
Hey Randy - he can’t return to juniors, he’s eclipsed the 9 game mark. He’s here, let him play. Kessel sucked his first 2 years. Now look at him.
You can still send him to juniors. The year will still count against the contract though.
Send him Garth don’t be a stubborn nucklehead! It will only help his development. He can get hurt (probably a better chance the way things have been going) just as easily with us!
Bailey has his whole life to experience failure with the Isles. Allow the kid to have some sort of joy before he turns 40, let ‘em play in WJC.
You can still send him down. He can even go to the bridge I believe now. This just counts as his first year under contract.
Too young for the Bridge. It’s either Juniors or he stays
He should definitely play, like CB said, it would only add to his maturity. The pressure from that would definitely give him more confidence in his play in the NHL.
send him
he should have stayed in juniors to get better at scoring and he could have gone to the wjc woth no probs. i think he should go though. never should have let him stay even though hes one helluva playmaker. o and he cant go to bridge. theres an age limit. fritz better fight cote tonight.
i don’t understand this whole ‘valuable experience’ schpeel. He is going to be playing against kids, who are less talented than the elite players playing in the NHL. His contract has already started for this year, and although the Islanders aren’t exactly good (or decent) wouldn’t playing in the NHL for a full year, be better than playing a little under a month at the WJC’s and then returning to the NHL. I just don’t see the point.
idk about this year but it sounds like the previous years there were competition by looking at the ppl on the list. also, good for joe because i saw him in bridge one game and he looked good
CB
its pretty clear that the “MOB” wants him to go.
what the mob wants..the mob gets…
Tell meathead Snow to do the right thing.
Send him. I noticed that Sillinger replaced him in the third last night with Hunter and Hilbert, so it is safe to assume that his minutes were about to decrease.
Let him go…..otherwise Grapes will go apoplexy on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday:
“Oh man…what’s with those knucklehead Islanders and dat meathead Snow doin not lettin one of are fine Canadian lads play in this tournament to show da world dat da best hockey players in da world come from right here in Canda?”
Let Bailey play. If Canada wins the gold, it will only help with his growth as a player. Plus at least we’ll have a winner to root for…..lol.
A lot of good points made for both sides …
Ultimately I agree that no year in the NHL is a “waste”. While I’m sure playing in the WJC may provide some memories I think nothing compares to actually playing games at the NHL level - whether they’re “meaningful” or not …just because the Isles aren’t playing for Cup doesn’t mean the teams they’re playing aren’t playing hard. His contract has already started so might as well keep him here. Keep him on the 1st PP unit and get him with Comeau or another younger winger and see what happens.
Keep him with the team in my opinion …
You don’t sign a vet to rub off on a kid and send the kid elsewhere. As long as Doug Weight is around, Bailey is going nowhere. He needs to earn his time and increase his output to gain it versus the vets. In my humble opinion, of course.
What does the kid want? If he wants to go, let him go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe they can all have a little game with it too, side bets on who will be in the lineup for the first game he’s back.
1st time commenter and Isles fan from Opening Day of NVMC (Isles v Atl. Flames exhibition game) in 1972. Love the content and insights CB. I’m in Napa, CA and get minimal hockey coverage. As for Bailey, he should play at the WJC. It would be a great, once-in-a-lifetime, experience for him and as the Isles are not likely to be in contention for anything other than the 1st pick in the draft, he will not be missed here. Being a team leader, playing for his Country and against the best his age in the World can only help Josh’s development.
Why not if Bailey wants to go let him he deserves the chance to decide for himself and if he does go, good luck to him.
Thirteen games cannot hurt at this point. Plus — dare we think it? — it leaves the opportunity to test/evaluate yet another AHL callup at the NHL level. I don’t think there’s much opportunity cost, whereas there might be some long-term gain in giving him the WJC thrill.
Here’s why having him in the NHL this season is a waste, folks:
You can control a player for a maximum of his first seven pro seasons. The Isles have now started Bailey’s clock toward free agency, basically meaning he can be a free agent when he’s 26. Do you want him playing with an awful team when he’s a 19-year-old kid or with a hopefully better team when he’s 26.
It’s not even a choice. He’ll be lucky to get 20 points this season on a team that will struggle to get 60.
Of course, if nothing happens with the arena, this will all be moot. He’ll be doing his NHL growth somewhere else.
I don’t see the WJC doing much for his development. If that was the concern, they should have sent him back to juniors after his 9 with specific instructions on things to work on (his shot, and maybe putting on a bit more size and learning to skate with that added size). They were determined to keep him here, so that’s that. The WJC would be a great and memorable experience, but my honest opinion is his development has already been hurt by keeping him in the NHL.
They should send the kid. No question about it.
No…Let him learn with the Isles. Also I still feel the Isles have some shot at playoff contention…especially when Ricky gets back. What if the Isles were a .500 team now? Would the opinion be different?
Might as well let him play. Gives him a chance to play against the best kids his age. Maybe he can apply what he’s learned at the NHL level there and it can make him a better player.
There’s really no precedent in the last few years for sending a kid to the WJC after they’ve made their NHL club. The reason for that is simple–if they’ve proved they can contribute on an NHL level, their team needs them to do so. If they’re expendable enough to spend 5 weeks farting around in international play, they shouldn’t have made the team in the first place.
While Bailey is probably a lock for the team if the Isles let him go, this isn’t a Team Canada that _needs_ him. They’re incredibly strong down the middle, to the point where Esposito might find himself shut out of his final chance at the tournament.
Let the kid go. That will be life-time expirience for him…
Wont you go home, Josh Bailey, wont you go home….
I dont think it would hurt the islanders as much as it would help Bailey, i am all for it.
it really shouldnt matter what Bailey wants. quite frankly he is being paid quite well by the Isles to play hockey for the Isles. If Snow and Gordon think it is a benefit to him he goes. If not he stays. I would like to be paid to be sitting on the beach in the carribean instead of an office but i doubt my employer doesnt think so…lol
I do think it would be a good experience for him. I am fine with it either way.
I mean he plays well here so him going and getting experience should only make him better when he comes back.
At the same time because he does play well here removing him should make this team even worse and that helps in getting Tavares or Hedman.
Still cannot believe our former goalie GM and our former goalie Head Coach don’t know how to work a rotation.
Respect to Nate Thompson for having a fight when he has the flu, not easy.
Let him play for two reasons: First, the Islanders arent exactly tearing it up. He has been doing a great job for us in the NHL, and maybe with him gone we will lose a few more games and move closer to the number 1 pick! Second, the experience will be tremendous for him. It will truly reflect how much he has grown over the past year and so far in the NHL. LET HIM GO!
The team sucks…let him go…
Re: Bailey this year brings him one year closer to UFA.
It is a factor, but it really should not be. Looks like Richards, Carter, Vinny, B. Richards, Kopitar, etc. all signed long term deals when they proved they were NHL talents and BEFORE they ever reached UFA status.
Player produces. Drafting team waves $$$ at him before UFA. Most likely, player signs on the dotted line.
Don’t bring up Gaborik - his stance is an effort to LEAVE Minn.
maybe Gordon needs to go back to the minors for conditioning. Overspeed=injurys, and it looks like N8 & #25 are sick of it lol
“Respect to Nate Thompson for having a fight when he has the flu, not easy.”
I’m probably not going out on a limb here when I say that Hollweig should start getting achy body/runny nose/lightheadedness feelings right about……..NOW
Who was the last player a team let go off its roster to play in the WJC? The Isles won’t be doing that, and they shouldn’t.
Bailey’s best education is playing against the best level of competition in the world not restricted to age.
“You can control a player for a maximum of his first seven pro seasons…Do you want him playing with an awful team when he’s a 19-year-old kid or with a hopefully better team when he’s 26.”
1. Who cares if the Hamilton Ice Dogs lose him in 2014.
2. Considering the Wile E. Coyote like slamming he is getting on a nightly basis because Snow and gordon REFUSE to protect their young talented players, he may be retired by the time he’s 24.
3. Come on, do you actually think they’re not going to trade him when he’s 23 and he’s only scored 15 goals per… for another Goalie from MASS.
I really think that other teams run guys like Nielsen, Oksposo and Bailey so they can beat the crap out of Jackman and Thompson… I think Jackman has really proven that he belongs. But by the look of his face he’s got to question a coach and GM that keeps sending him into the meat grinder. They all have to question that. maybe fritz isn’ the answer… BUT I CAN GUARENTEE THAT OVERSPPED ISN’T THE ANSWER EITHER.
I have never been so negative about this team… even in the worst of times… but losing like this because your coach is a stubborn one trick pony… and a wuss to boot…
The more I watch my team the more I hate massashootus.
Nice work Garth! I hope you picked up a space heater tonight so Fritz isn’t too cold to go in…
I’ve got Richard Park in the “WHO WILL BE THE FIRST ISLANDER SENT TO THE ROOM FOR REPAIRS” POOL
Let him play in the WJC!!! Ottawa has been a very good place for him so far this year.
Besides … the experience he receives at the WJC may be invaluable to his development… as CB noted … he’s not going to miss much in the next 3 weeks with the Isles … and he’s not going to be the catylst to save the Isles’ season.
If the Isles wanted him to play at the WJC they shouldn’t have kept him up. Cant burn a year of his contract for 50+ games. I say no, he needs to be in Goedons system for as much time as possiable
I can’t conjure up a single reason why he should go back to juniors.
Sending him to the junior tournament is tantamount to getting a date with the girl of your dreams, then breaking it and going to White Castle with your fat, old ex-girlfriend.
Bailey will get more out of the next 13 games with the Isles than he will in the junior tournament, even if his team should win it all.
If he blows his knee out in the junior tourney, the hypocritical Isles fans will go ape and ask why he was allowed to leave the team.
Great post JP.
We loved it when Freddy Meyer IV layed out Spezza with a clean hard hit… In fact we still talk about it as “Freddy the GOD” but hate it when Bailey gets hit and think that it’s NOT RIGHT!
It’s hockey!
Players get hit… even the guys on “our” team get hit once in a while.
DOC
Tony:
You nailed it on the head. The hypocrits would come out of the woodworks calling for everyones head…
DOC
Doc,
there’s a difference between getting HIT and getting RUN. Getting run is when you have a sign on your back that says KICK ME…
NIELSEN WAS RUN and only Trent “The great White” Hunter came to his defense.
JACKMAN WAS RUN and “No Willie” Sutton twiddled his sore thumbs while his teammate lay concussed.
Meanwhile, Weight takes a shoulder to the chest and Guerin goes right after the perpertrator like he just felt up his wife.
Am I the only person that sees the disconnect?
When you have Bergy coming to your aid, that says something about Bergy… and it also says something about the rest of your team.
I’ve said it before… the “FLASH” in FLASH GORDON is for the FLASHLIGHT he’s going to need to find this team after he’s lost them… which I am pretty sure happened in Jersey.
And to be honest, I don’t rememeber the repercussions after the Spezza hit. it was one of three games I missed last year, but I bet somebody on the Sens saught revenge.
nope…
After the Spezza hit Alfredsson slashed him I think, that was about it.
The Sens also play fairly soft hockey, so thats not a good comparison. Guys should stick up for each other, Weight hit Sutter, half the guys on the ice went after him. Jackman sticks up for everyone, someone shouldve done the same for him.
The Sens took a few cheap shots at Freddy during the last game, but I think he got them back and then some.
Good to see Danis in goal tonight. They look good so far, but you can’t expect Philly to lie back and take it. The Isles will have to match their intensity for the rest of the game to come out of this with a win.
“You guys are going to love Jon Sim.”
–Every fan on every message board
——–
I still have no idea what they were all talking about.
When Bailey was in Egypt land, let my Bailey go!
Yahoo! they won a period. Does anybody know the number of the Hempstead Tpk parade comission?
JP, seriously, enough. You know I respect your opinion but you’re embarrassing yourself now.
What a fight. You got what you wanted Joe
now that was a heavyweight bout. both guys go off bloodied!
way to go Fritzie!
YEAH FRITZY! Now, that is why he should be here. Cote destroys Sim earlier, then they have a good bout.
P.S. Screw Pock, keep Callahan up, at least he hits.
As soon as I turn the game on, 2 straight Flyers goals. Either I’m a jinx or this team is just really, really bad. Probably a little of both.
anyone else feel an interference call could of been called on that 3rd goal
what a fight. both bloody and very fun to watch. GO FRITZ GO
I really hope they do send him for the tournament. I still believe he shouldn’t even be with the team now. He should be captain of his Jr team. Anyway though, send him to the WJC and let him represent his country. He definitely wont be missing much here on LI.
THERE YOU GO BLAKEY!!!!
uh-o doug is hurt
nvm hes fine. looks like he slammed his face though. there pk involves lots of pressure
Send him!!!! Has anybody else noticed that since they told him he was sticking with the team that his overall play has dropped off?
Yann Danis proving to be nothing more than a third-string goalie.
Another loss, shoulda let em take it and started some rough stuff at the end.
I’d be curious for some prediction on the Islanders point total this season. I’m going with 68.
Comeau has more goals than Tambellini.
93 pts, we had 79 last yr, so i believe we can get 93 pts,
sudsy will make danis better, i personbally think danis is better then joey mac, and i think dubie is better then all of them.
oh canada, played on our ice in our capital, will make baily a stronger player, so yes let him learn to really mean what winning for your fans means, cos us islanders are right up there with team canada when itcomes to passion and winning.
I would love to see Bailey in Team Canada’s uni on Boxing Day. The WJC is a pressure-packed tournament with a very bright media spotlight on it here in Canada (esp. when we host). He’d get great experience in a great environment.
I hope the Isles let him go to it. I really think it would be beneficial to his all round development.