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I hate to break it to you Islanders fans, Josh Bailey is good at hockey. The 2008 ninth overall pick had a career year in 2016-17, blowing past his previous high of 41 points and ending with 56 points. While John Tavares struggle during the first half, Bailey was the first-half MVP.

It seems like anything Bailey does will not endear him to the fan base. Score the OT winner in the home opener against the Ducks, fans would say "why couldn't it be done in regulation!" Bailey finished in the top 25 with 43 assists, fans would say" well most of them on secondary assists on empty-net goals." Fans would be wrong as Bailey finished with 30 primary assists, tied for 10th. My 12-year-old son Zach is the perfect example of the fan base. He's not a fan of Bailey. When asked why, his reply is simple "because he sucks."

Fans have the same reply as Zach. But why? Is it Bailey's fault that general manager Garth Snow traded down twice in 2008 to take him at nine. Can you blame Bailey because the Islanders were cheap and needed Bailey's contract to reach the cap floor during his rookie year? Can someone be considered a bust when they have played the 10th-most games in franchise history?

The running debate on social media is whether Josh Bailey is an elite winger. The fact that John Tavares requested Bailey to play alongside him on the first wing speaks to what kind of player Bailey is. You do not have to be elite to play on the top line with a franchise player. Take a look at Pittsburgh and Edmonton.

This next month is big for Josh Bailey. Will the Islanders protect the longest-tenured Islander in June's expansion draft? Like Tavares, Bailey is an unrestricted free agent following next season and the team can begin negotiations with the forward July 1.

Is Josh Bailey elite? No, but he doesn't have to be.

2016-17 final grade: A

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