Only sh!tty, gutless owners play pat-ass with their players. You, as an owner, have to do what's in the best interest of the team, not one star player. Players are going to play for whatever coach gets hired. Obviously if the entire has big issues with that coach then there's more to it. But if one player says "I can't play for him", then you trade him. It'll be out in the media and social media and he'll probably be pegged as a cancer if it happens again or multiple times.
- Isleshockeyman

It goes back to Wang being too close to the GM all the way down to the players. Owners should not be too close to anyone in the organization. This team needs to be treated like a business.

No it's not. The only thing he can control is how much effort he puts into the game. Once again, he had a career year. I'm not taking that away from him. It's his lack of effort that bothers most everybody on here. Watching him stand around by the boards while offensive players skate around him is what the concern is. I've said a million times that I'd like to see what this team could do with a real coach. Bailey & Strome included. Bailey has some talent, I just want to see him put in the effort in the D-zone. Get a stick in the passing lane, alter their passing lane, attack the point man and pressure him, something.
- Isleshockeyman

"He had a career year, I'm not taking that away from him" then you go on to take that away from him. He wouldn't be in this league if he didn't try. It is impossible to quantify effort and their is a difference between not trying and making a mistake. am I a huge Bailey fan?? No. but there are much bigger issues with this club than Josh Bailey

JT is one of the bigger culprits. He turns the puck over in the D-zone, doesn't hustle back to help and doesn't play the body. I don't expect, nor do I want, him to hit like MM. Tie a man up, put some pressure on. Personally, I think JT turns it over because he's trying to do too much by himself. I'm not sure why though.
- Isleshockeyman

So when JT turns it over he is doing to much but when Bailey turns it over he is lazy. Ok got it

My point is he is playing out of his role. He is a third line winger (and fine at that) it's not his fault he is playing where he is. I just don't know what he can do to appease the fanbase.
- Dan Petriw

Very simply Dan. He needs to stop avoiding contact at all costs and start paying more attention to defense. It's not that complicated. Most fans are not looking for 100 points out of Bailey.

There are 2 ways to copy the code so when it's for you I do it the long way 🖕
- Upstate_isles

Of course you do. ASS.

Very simply Dan. He needs to stop avoiding contact at all costs and start paying more attention to defense. It's not that complicated. Most fans are not looking for 100 points out of Bailey.
- ses111

I watch the games. Was he Joel Otto in his own end? No. but he wasn't a liability

I watch the games. Was he Joel Otto in his own end? No. but he wasn't a liability
- Dan Petriw

Nice name from the past Dan. This team can use a Joel Otto. I do think Bailey was better in his own end this year, but still has a lot of work to do. To be fair, this coaching staff also has a lot of work to do on defense as well. I hope we hear about new coaches soon on Weight's staff. Hate having to wait for the playoffs to be over to get any news.

So when JT turns it over he is doing to much but when Bailey turns it over he is lazy. Ok got it
- Dan Petriw

Bailey bashers! Bailey bashers everywhere! If the line was top 6 in the NHL in points, why mess with it? Now imagine if JT played elite this year.

My point is he is playing out of his role. He is a third line winger (and fine at that) it's not his fault he is playing where he is. I just don't know what he can do to appease the fanbase.
- Dan Petriw

I agree he doesn't get to choose where he plays. I question whether he'd be an effective 3rd line winger. Traditionally, that's a checking line and requires more than the occasional poke check. Also, wingers are not afraid to shoot the puck. He came up as a center, and still has a center's instincts, insofar as he's got a strong tendency to pass rather than shoot.

I'll bet Snow could expose him to the expansion draft, and he WON'T be chosen.

Nice name from the past Dan. This team can use a Joel Otto. I do think Bailey was better in his own end this year, but still has a lot of work to do.
- ses111

So does JT.

So does JT.
- bgainesDM

Yes he does. It's not just Bailey.

I agree he doesn't get to choose where he plays. I question whether he'd be an effective 3rd line winger. Traditionally, that's a checking line and requires more than the occasional poke check. Also, wingers are not afraid to shoot the puck. He came up as a center, and still has a center's instincts, insofar as he's got a strong tendency to pass rather than shoot.

I'll bet Snow could expose him to the expansion draft, and he WON'T be chosen.
- JohnScammo

So, if I'm Vegas' GM and I see a player exposed who ranked 6th in the entire NHL in 5 on 5 primary assists and ranked 2nd on the team in 5 on 5 point P/60, I'm just not gonna choose him? Ok, got it.

I agree he doesn't get to choose where he plays. I question whether he'd be an effective 3rd line winger. Traditionally, that's a checking line and requires more than the occasional poke check. Also, wingers are not afraid to shoot the puck. He came up as a center, and still has a center's instincts, insofar as he's got a strong tendency to pass rather than shoot.

I'll bet Snow could expose him to the expansion draft, and he WON'T be chosen.
- JohnScammo

I agree he probably is not the best third line wing. I also agree he might be best as a center.

"He had a career year, I'm not taking that away from him" then you go on to take that away from him. He wouldn't be in this league if he didn't try. It is impossible to quantify effort and their is a difference between not trying and making a mistake. am I a huge Bailey fan?? No. but there are much bigger issues with this club than Josh Bailey
- Dan Petriw

Let me qualify my previous statement. When I talk about Bailey's effort, I'm talking about the D-zone. Countless times I've watched him standing just above the circle, both hands on the stick. Mine, and a lot of others, frustrations with him lie there. I get that he's not a 2-way player, but get a stick in a passing lane at least. That's my big issue with Bailey. Making a mistake is making a mistake, not playing any defense is not putting in effort. I didn't take anything away from the year he had. Career year, good on him. I've said it a lot in here, he has talent. I'd be willing to bet that an good, experienced could get a lot more out of him.

So when JT turns it over he is doing to much but when Bailey turns it over he is lazy. Ok got it
- Dan Petriw

Bailey doesn't turn the puck over in the D-zone. He rarely has it in the D-zone. JT is almost as culpable as Bailey with a lack of effort in the D-zone. JT will skate more than Bailey in the D-zone, but he's still a liability in the D-zone. JT doesn't seem to utilize his teammates sometimes, especially in OT.

So, if I'm Vegas' GM and I see a player exposed who ranked 6th in the entire NHL in 5 on 5 primary assists and ranked 2nd on the team in 5 on 5 point P/60, I'm just not gonna choose him? Ok, got it.
- bgainesDM

Watch and learn, junior. Lots of guys have had career years playing with JT. Unless McPhee is an idiot, he'll find someone else on the Isles to take............probably a d-man.

I agree he probably is not the best third line wing. I also agree he might be best as a center.
- ses111

I think Bailey could be a decent-good 2nd line winger. With the right guys, coaches and system. He has talent, I just think there is a complete lack of accountability in the entire organization. As Dan replied to one of my posts earlier, there are lots of problems on this team besides Bailey. I agree with that. As I'm sure many of you guys would as well. But today is Bailey day.

Watch and learn, junior. Lots of guys have had career years playing with JT. Unless McPhee is an idiot, he'll find someone else on the Isles to take............probably a d-man.
- JohnScammo

He had more points per 60 min than JT this year. He had more first assists per 60 min than Okposo ever did with JT. He's the playmaker. That's his role and he's been the best one for JT since he was drafted. That's a statistical fact.

So, if I'm Vegas' GM and I see a player exposed who ranked 6th in the entire NHL in 5 on 5 primary assists and ranked 2nd on the team in 5 on 5 point P/60, I'm just not gonna choose him? Ok, got it.
- bgainesDM

I find it funny how this is the only stat you ever trot out about Bailey.

I find it funny how this is the only stat you ever trot out about Bailey.
- Isleshockeyman

Because that's what ultimately creates the goal, that's what solidifies playmaking. Not everybody on a top line is going to be pure goal scorers. You need a playmaker, and for now, Bailey fits that bill. Could it be Ho-Sang in the future? Sure, but he needs to better his 2-way hockey first.

I think Bailey could be a decent-good 2nd line winger. With the right guys, coaches and system. He has talent, I just think there is a complete lack of accountability in the entire organization. As Dan replied to one of my posts earlier, there are lots of problems on this team besides Bailey. I agree with that. As I'm sure many of you guys would as well. But today is Bailey day.
- Isleshockeyman

I'm don't think so. For him to be effective he needs to be paired with two shoot first players. Bailey will always look to pass first (and second, and sometimes third). Besides if the Islanders iced a line with Bailey and Nelson I think Ses would explode.

He had more points per 60 min than JT this year. He had more first assists per 60 min than Okposo ever did with JT. He's the playmaker. That's his role and he's been the best one for JT since he was drafted. That's a statistical fact.
- bgainesDM

JT's numbers were slightly down this year.

I'm don't think so. For him to be effective he needs to be paired with two shoot first players. Bailey will always look to pass first (and second, and sometimes third). Besides if the Islanders iced a line with Bailey and Nelson I think Ses would explode.
- JimmyP

Cappy did that last year. Ironically it was Bailey's regression year.

I think Bailey could be a decent-good 2nd line winger. With the right guys, coaches and system. He has talent, I just think there is a complete lack of accountability in the entire organization. As Dan replied to one of my posts earlier, there are lots of problems on this team besides Bailey. I agree with that. As I'm sure many of you guys would as well. But today is Bailey day.
- Isleshockeyman

I agree that Bailey is not the biggest problem with this team. Bailey on the 2nd line with the right linemates might work? This team with Ho Sang and Barzal will add more skill, but they need some real grit as well.

He had more points per 60 min than JT this year. He had more first assists per 60 min than Okposo ever did with JT. He's the playmaker. That's his role and he's been the best one for JT since he was drafted. That's a statistical fact.
- bgainesDM

JT is multi-talented. As a center, he is a playmaker. But he can also shoot the puck with more accuracy than most wingers. So in that sense, Bailey is not a bad fit with him.

However, it's the rest of Bailey's game that is more concerning. While I saw some improvement this season, Bailey still shies away from contact more than most NHL players. There are times when a solid body check is called for, and Bailey only tries a poke check........and sometimes not even that.