We won’t know for sure until later this afternoon when the Islanders announce their roster cuts, but it would be difficult to justify keeping first-round draft pick Josh Bailey on the NHL roster when he was able to play in only two exhibition games. If they keep Bailey, it means asking an established NHL center, such as Mike Comrie, to change positions. And what do they do when veteran Mike Sillinger recovers from hip surgery?
It’s not the worst thing in the world for Bailey to return to his junior team in Windsor. A season with the responsibility as captain and the attention a first-line center receives from opposing defenses only can help him grow and mature. Bailey showed plenty of promise in summer minicamp and rookie camp, and new coach Scott Gordon came away impressed by his hockey sense. Now is the time to let him go develop where it makes the most sense for the Islanders.
If the Isles keep Bailey on the NHL roster, it will be difficult to see it as much more than a public-relations move designed to reinforce their decision to trade down twice before selecting Bailey with the ninth overall pick. The fact is that seven of the eight players chosen in front of Baiely are expected to start the season in the NHL. Only Nashville’s seventh pick, Colin Wilson, is heading back to college at Boston University.
Three players the Islanders passed, Toronto defenseman Luke Schenn, Columbus forward Nikita Filatov and Phoenix forward Mikkel Boedker look like NHL players right now. That doesn’t mean general manager Garth Snow and assistant GM Ryan Jankowski were wrong to multiply picks and grab a center of the future. They had their reasons, and it might turn out to be the best thing for the Isles’ organization in the long run. As they said, wait three years to judge. But if Schenn, Filatov and Boedker develop quickly and make an impact on their teams this season, it will underscore why they were rated so highly and, ultimately, chosen at the top of the draft.
Comments (9)
like honestly greg, dont you really deep down think the isles made the absolute wrong decsion in the draft, not saying bailey is a bad player, but nothing in the realm of filatov, schenn, bodeker and that only reinforces the fact that the guys they picked up are good players, but marginal picks that the franchise could really live without for the time being and help to pair another star with okposo, i still think filatov was the pick him or schenn
Doesn't mean they're wrong. Just that they look like asses.
Filatov is going to be sent to the OHL. Columbus is waiting for his paperwork to come in from Russia, so they can send him to Canada.
Is there anyway to see the game tonight?
How about a story on DiPietro's dismal performance last night. Oh yeah, that would require you to say something negative about this organization, which you clearly don't do.
Look what happened to me, I was trying to write an article expressing the truth about the current Islanders situation, and these fellas haven't stopped ripping me since.
Very very sensitive these fellas are, very very sensitive.
Yeah what the hell is that about? You report on every other game, and they get blown out last night and you have nothing to say in the paper or on your blog? COME ON! Did anybody expect DP to have a good game last night?
Botta's doing a good job on his blog
www.islanderspointblank.com
No, I'm not Botta, but I appreciate his honesty.
Logan, you're supposed to be the beat writer and you ignore anything bad. Unbelievable.
Johnette ... Go do the dishes! You are a clueless wench!
Lots of anger in this thread .... I agree with Greg ... Bailey staying here is a total PR move.