2023-06-07 03:55:24
During his 15 season career in the National Hockey League (NHL), Josh Bailey only knew the New York Islanders. Despite his great loyalty to the organization, he would no longer be in the plans of his coach or his general manager.
A little after everyone else, Lou Lamoriello held a press conference for journalists covering the team on Tuesday. The 80-year-old GM outlined his plan for opening up the free agent market, but he may need some space under the salary cap.
Lamoriello would like to find Zach Parisé, Semyon Varlamov, Pierre Engvall and Scott Mayfield next season. The last year of Bailey’s contract, which should earn him $ 5 million, could suffer.
“Loyalty will never stop me from progressing or making the decisions I have a responsibility to make. Never. In Josh’s case, it looks like, maybe it’s the end here, said the head of hockey operations. With this situation, Josh and I believe we have an honest man-to-man relationship, and we will work with him. We will do everything to help him, but my priority is what is best for the team.
If the Islanders want to buy out the 33-year-old forward, the first period to do so will begin 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is lifted and end on June 30. The operation would save $2.33 million in 2023-2024, but a penalty of 1.66 million would be imposed on them in 2024-2025.
Drafted ninth overall in 2008, Bailey played 1,057 games with the Islanders, amassing 580 points. Last season, he was sometimes left on the press box by head coach Lane Lambert, which limited him to 64 games and 25 points. The Ontarian was not used in the playoffs.
Believing that he could always be useful to an NHL team, Bailey mentioned during the team debrief that he did not intend to stay in the stands for long. A trade remains a possibility, if the Islanders manage to find a dance partner.
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