AP New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey has agreed to join Bundesliga side Bietigheim-Bissingen Steelers on a lockout deal, according to the team website.
Bailey, 23, was the Isles’ first-round pick (ninth overall) at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and jumped immediately to the NHL. As such, he’s already a veteran of four seasons — 291 games, and he only turned 23 in October.
This season promises to be crucial the former OHL Owen Sound standout. He’s in the final year of a two-year, $2.1 million deal signed with the Isles in 2011 and will become a restricted free agent next summer.
Eventually, he’ll need to have a noteworthy offensive breakout. Bailey’s best season came in 2009-10, when he racked up 16G-19A-35PTS in 73 games — since then, his production has tailed slightly and his average ice time plateaued at 15:13 last season. (Though he did appear in a career-high 80 games.)
With Bietigheim-Bissingen, Bailey will play alongside San Jose Sharks forward T.J. Galiardi, who inked with the club in October.
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Playoffs Tonight: Blackhawks look to ‘ramp up our intensity’ vs Red Wings
May 20, 2013, 8:03 AM EDT
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Game 3 will start at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where Pens, Bruins AHL teams erupt in playoff game
May 20, 2013, 7:15 AM EDT
Monday’s collection of links.
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Report: Patrick Roy a candidate for Avalanche head coaching job
May 20, 2013, 1:56 AM EDT
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Had success as a QMJHL coach in Quebec.
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That close to going up 3-0.
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Senators’ OT hero Greening had fiberglass pieces removed from face
May 20, 2013, 12:55 AM EDT
No pain.
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Welcome back.
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Ottawa back in the series.
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Looked like a minor penalty. Went undetected.
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Overtime.
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Tried to sell it. Didn’t work.
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Video: Senators’ goalie Anderson stops Crosby on early breakaway
May 19, 2013, 9:33 PM EDT
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Pittsburgh with the lead after two periods.
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Big hit. Appeared clean, too.
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Torres suspended for remainder of semifinal series.
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LOOK OUT!
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Rangers’ goaltending a concern? ‘We know what Henrik is,’ says Tortorella
May 19, 2013, 8:01 PM EDT
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Needs to be better for Game 3.
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Lighting it up right now.
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Boston with three unanswered goals.
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Rest of the night didn’t go so well.
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New York trailed 2-0 in first-round series with Washington.
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Canucks’ captain scores twice. Where was that in the playoffs?
