Heading into the 2013-14 NHL season, it remains to be seen who will accompany Matt Moulson and John Tavares on the New York Islanders' top line. The most likely candidates are free-agent signee Pierre-Marc Bouchard and 20-year-old Ryan Strome. That line will need to produce if the Islanders are going to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season. But the No. 1 line can't do it alone. New York's second line of Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo was productive last season. Bailey missed the start of the season due to a knee injury sustained playing overseas during the lockout, but the first-round pick (No. 9) from 2008 finished with 11 goals and eight assists in 38 NHL games. Owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow were pleased with what they saw from Bailey last season. On July 15, Bailey, who was a restricted free agent, signed a five-year contract worth $16.5 million. It's been a roller-coaster ride for Bailey since the Islanders drafted him. They surprisingly kept him in the NHL as an 18-year-old, and Bailey showed glimpses of his ability with 25 points (seven goals) in 68 games on a team that finished at the bottom of the NHL standings. Things went south for Bailey during 2010-11, when he went 13 straight games without a point and was demoted to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League. Though there have been more slumps since, Bailey's hands and vision are too impressive to ignore. The talent is there; the Islanders need him to show it on a consistent basis. As with most other players, much of Bailey's game revolves around confidence. When it hasn't been there, neither has the production. Islanders coach Jack Capuano said he believes the combination started to arrive when Bailey was shifted from center to left wing during the second half of the 2011-12 season. Bailey's production will be crucial this season as the Islanders compete in the newly formed Metropolitan Division with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. Only the top three teams in the division are assured of a playoff spot, so the race truly begins when New York opens the season at New Jersey on Oct. 4. Bailey, who spent some time on Tavares' line during the first-round playoff loss to the Penguins, told NHL.com he would have no problem skating again with Nielsen and Okposo. He said he believes the continuity and familiarity could benefit all three players. Now that the Islanders finally got over the hump and made the playoffs last season, bigger things could be on the horizon for a young core that has collected its lumps together. Can they take the next step in 2013-14? Much of that will depend on Bailey's performance. He's ready to do whatever it takes to help bring this franchise back to prominence.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Josh Bailey
Heading into the 2013-14 NHL season, it remains to be seen who will accompany Matt Moulson and John Tavares on the New York Islanders' top line. The most likely candidates are free-agent signee Pierre-Marc Bouchard and 20-year-old Ryan Strome. That line will need to produce if the Islanders are going to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season. But the No. 1 line can't do it alone. New York's second line of Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo was productive last season. Bailey missed the start of the season due to a knee injury sustained playing overseas during the lockout, but the first-round pick (No. 9) from 2008 finished with 11 goals and eight assists in 38 NHL games. Owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow were pleased with what they saw from Bailey last season. On July 15, Bailey, who was a restricted free agent, signed a five-year contract worth $16.5 million. It's been a roller-coaster ride for Bailey since the Islanders drafted him. They surprisingly kept him in the NHL as an 18-year-old, and Bailey showed glimpses of his ability with 25 points (seven goals) in 68 games on a team that finished at the bottom of the NHL standings. Things went south for Bailey during 2010-11, when he went 13 straight games without a point and was demoted to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League. Though there have been more slumps since, Bailey's hands and vision are too impressive to ignore. The talent is there; the Islanders need him to show it on a consistent basis. As with most other players, much of Bailey's game revolves around confidence. When it hasn't been there, neither has the production. Islanders coach Jack Capuano said he believes the combination started to arrive when Bailey was shifted from center to left wing during the second half of the 2011-12 season. Bailey's production will be crucial this season as the Islanders compete in the newly formed Metropolitan Division with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. Only the top three teams in the division are assured of a playoff spot, so the race truly begins when New York opens the season at New Jersey on Oct. 4. Bailey, who spent some time on Tavares' line during the first-round playoff loss to the Penguins, told NHL.com he would have no problem skating again with Nielsen and Okposo. He said he believes the continuity and familiarity could benefit all three players. Now that the Islanders finally got over the hump and made the playoffs last season, bigger things could be on the horizon for a young core that has collected its lumps together. Can they take the next step in 2013-14? Much of that will depend on Bailey's performance. He's ready to do whatever it takes to help bring this franchise back to prominence.
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