The New York Islanders have some of the biggest names scheduled for free agency this summer, but now you can take one off the list. The team has reached a six-year extension with Josh Bailey that will carry an annual average value of $5.0MM.
Bailey was ranked #6 in our midseason free agent power rankings, and has done nothing to justify moving him from that spot over the last month. The 28-year old forward is in the midst of an outstanding season, already setting his career-high in points with 62 through his first 57 contests. That includes 47 assists, good for fifth in the entire NHL behind only Jakub Voracek, Blake Wheeler, Johnny Gaudreau and Claude Giroux. His point total itself puts him among the top-20 in the NHL, and had been setting him up for a huge ask on the free agent market.
The Islanders originally drafted Bailey ninth-overall back in 2008, but he didn’t quite break out until last season when he recorded 56 points. He’s become a perfect fit for John Tavares, the biggest fish that the Islanders are trying to get under contract before July 1st. They have to be hoping that retaining Bailey will help those contract negotiations when they begin in earnest, though we likely won’t get a read on that until the season is over.
For the time being, Bailey will be happy with the substantial raise on his 2017-18 $3.3MM cap hit. He could be giving up a little bit of money, but will now get to stay with the only organization he’s ever known for the majority of his career. The Islanders will get an excellent playmaker for the foreseeable future, one that can likely find a home alongside Mathew Barzal if Tavares doesn’t stick around.
Bob McKenzie of TSN was first to report a deal was close, giving us the salary parameters.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
The snowman strikes again. Has to be the worst GM in the league, the guy has been trying to get fired for years
I won’t disagree about him being the worst GM but this is a good deal. Giving Tavares more of a reason to stick around since they have found at least one good wing to put on his side. If Tavares leaves then its not out of the question for Bailey’s numbers to drop but thats a worthwhile risk.
He isn’t much worse than Ken Holland, though
Garth Snow, the Phil Jackson of hockey.
But with no championships?? Makes no sense.
Are the Isles seriously considering bringing Tavares back? Rumors suggest he wants to be the league’s highest paid player. Offense shouldn’t be their biggest issue, even with him gone. Defensive depth, goaltending and poor defensive play from their top 6 forward group, including Tavares, seem like the area of concern. Tavares contract might be better served on 2 or 3 quality players to address those, not to mention a deadline haul of quality prospects he could return.
Yes the Islanders are seriously considering bringing back JT he’s only one of the best centers in the game. Is this a serious question? lol
Your spot on with your analysis, but you don’t just let a top 5-10 forward in the league walk. If they could convince a team to hand over the picks/prospects necessary they should do it, but no team is going to give the Islanders the haul that would come close to being equal value.
Tavares should be offered a very high paying contract. His talent and track record show he deserves it. Totally understand what your saying about making improvements elsewhere with the funds but you don’t let a guy like that play somewhere else they gotta lock him up.
Valid points. I think they’ll have a little over 60 million in committed contracts to 16 or 17 players if Tavares returns. With decisions to make on a few RFA and UFA’s as well. Lee and Eberle are due next year. I just worry there won’t be enough cap space to make the defensive upgrades. Snow will take the heat for it but his hands will be tied in reality. They didn’t shop him so it’s all moot, but if Tavares gets a better offer or realizes the Isles can’t afford to surround him with the necessary pieces, him walking for nothing is an even worse scenario.
They should let Eberle walk at that point since the money would be better elsewhere. Lee might be expendable but they might look to keep him since he has fit in pretty well alongside Tavares as well. Snow’s hands will be tied, but he’s as much blame. $5.5m for Ladd, $3.5m for Clutterbuck, $3.35m for Cizikas, $6m for Boychuk, $3.33 for Greiss. That’s $6.8m tied up in two fourth liners, $5.5m in an extremely underperforming third liner (being paid like a first line winger), $3.33m for a bad backup goaltender, and $6m for a 2nd pair dman being paid like a top tier dman.