2008 Woodie Awards
Bailey finally gets the call to dress for the Isles
in SportsIssue date: 11/13/08
UNIONDALE, N.Y.- Josh Bailey soon discovered that the NHL is a steep step up from junior hockey. The Islanders prospect was called for hooking on just his third professional shift when the Flyers' Andreas Nodl crept up faster than the centerman expected, leading to an offensive-zone hooking penalty.
Bailey was also whistled for high-sticking with his team down a goal with 2:40 remaining in the Isles eventual 3-1 matinee loss to Philadelphia Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum. But while Bailey spent four minutes in the penalty box, his veteran teammates said the teenager showed promise.
"I think Josh is going to be a player," said Doug Weight, a four-time All-Star. "It's no secret that when he came into camp, guys had certain expectations. But every day, he turned everybody's heads. He's got a great savvy for the game and I think he's going to be a great player in this league."
"He's very stoic, very calm. I think he has that urge to be great."
The Islanders traded down from the fifth spot to ninth in last spring's draft, where they picked Bailey as a cornerstone of what the front office keeps insisting is a rebuilding project. The 19-year-old was inactive with an undisclosed lower body injury through the first 14 games. Yet the centerman logged 12:30 of ice time centering the fourth line between Tim Jackman and Jon Sim. The teenager recorded an even plus-minus rating and won seven of 11 faceoffs.
"I didn't know what to expect," Bailey said. "It was nice to feel like you're apart of things again. The first period, I needed to make a couple of adjustments; a couple of plays, I was a little slow on. As the game went on, I got more comfortable out there."
After watching the power play finish 0-8 while surrendering a Mike Richards shorthanded goal, first-year Islanders coach Scott Gordon could take at least one positive out of the game in witnessing Bailey's debut. Despite a season built on the promise of a youth movement, Bailey and 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo are the only two prospects with substantial upsides on the roster.
Bailey was also whistled for high-sticking with his team down a goal with 2:40 remaining in the Isles eventual 3-1 matinee loss to Philadelphia Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum. But while Bailey spent four minutes in the penalty box, his veteran teammates said the teenager showed promise.
"I think Josh is going to be a player," said Doug Weight, a four-time All-Star. "It's no secret that when he came into camp, guys had certain expectations. But every day, he turned everybody's heads. He's got a great savvy for the game and I think he's going to be a great player in this league."
"He's very stoic, very calm. I think he has that urge to be great."
The Islanders traded down from the fifth spot to ninth in last spring's draft, where they picked Bailey as a cornerstone of what the front office keeps insisting is a rebuilding project. The 19-year-old was inactive with an undisclosed lower body injury through the first 14 games. Yet the centerman logged 12:30 of ice time centering the fourth line between Tim Jackman and Jon Sim. The teenager recorded an even plus-minus rating and won seven of 11 faceoffs.
"I didn't know what to expect," Bailey said. "It was nice to feel like you're apart of things again. The first period, I needed to make a couple of adjustments; a couple of plays, I was a little slow on. As the game went on, I got more comfortable out there."
After watching the power play finish 0-8 while surrendering a Mike Richards shorthanded goal, first-year Islanders coach Scott Gordon could take at least one positive out of the game in witnessing Bailey's debut. Despite a season built on the promise of a youth movement, Bailey and 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo are the only two prospects with substantial upsides on the roster.
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