I can't remember what I received on my 19th birthday, but I know it wasn't a 3 year contract potentially worth more than 5 million dollars from an NHL team. That's what the New York Islanders wrapped up with a bow for their first round pick from 2008 today, signing Josh Bailey to an entry level deal.
The Islanders could have had Luke Schenn, Nikata Filatov, Colin Wilson, or Mikkel Boedker, but instead traded down twice and selected Bailey 9th overall. Why did they do this? You can listen to New York Assistant G.M. Ryan Jankowski explain it from our post draft interview.
Bailey might not have been the most skilled player taken, but he could be a future captain on the Island, will be a good middle man for Kyle Okposo down the road, and netted New York extra draft picks to select Aaron Ness 40th overall, a high scoring high school blueliner who will play at Minnesota this year.
Bailey is still considered a long shot to stay on the Island, and the best developement path for him is likely returning to Windsor, where he'll wear the "C" and play on a Spitfires team currently ranked #1 in the country, and a good bet to represent the OHL at the Memorial Cup.
One other prosepct note, the Philadelphia Flyers put Swiss D-man Luca Sbisa's name on an entry level deal. Sbisa was the Flyers first round pick, 19th overall in 2008, should return to Lethbridge of the WHL and help the Hurricanes try and repeat as Eastern Conference Champions.
No comments:
Post a Comment