Starting today, I’ll be doing daily player profiles, with each one giving my thoughts on how a different member of the New York Islanders performed this season. The first player profile will focus on Josh Bailey.

This wasn’t an awesome year from Bailey. He can be a frustrating player to watch and sometimes you can go a period or two before noticing that he’s on the ice. He doesn’t drive much play and certainly can’t carry a line on his own. He bounced between lines this year and I think there’s doubt as to whether he’s capable of being a top-six forward. He may not have hit the 50-point mark this season if it wasn’t for his shooting percentage, which was the highest of his career. For a team starved for offense, Bailey did little to help fix the problem this year.

I also worry about the fact that Bailey is turning 31 this year and I don’t think it’s likely we see an improved version of him next season or in the years to come. I’m not saying we see a sharp decline but I wouldn’t expect major improvements in his game.

In all fairness though, Bailey is still a solid secondary piece and can fit into the middle-six. His production is respectable and the contract he’s on brings good value on the dollar. If the Islanders were to bring in a top-line winger and then bump Bailey to the third-line on a more permanent basis to play with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, I think that could be a good fit for him but I just don’t see that working cap-wise.

I think a big thing here is that he shouldn’t be measured up against his 2017-18 season. Scoring 71 points was a one-off and simply isn’t going to happen again. Having said that, there needs to be more effort and impact from him in the future.


Check in tomorrow for a player profile focusing on Mathew Barzal.


For more, follow @BenShelley_20 on Twitter.


OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM MARCH

The good and the bad of the Islanders’ season (so far)

Islanders need answers

Islanders have a favourable schedule to end the regular season

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