Ottawa released Bailey on Sunday from his professional tryout agreement.
Bailey notched eight goals and 25 points in 64 games with the Islanders last season. He was traded to Chicago at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and was promptly bought out of the final season of his six-year, $30 million contract.
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Senators' Josh Bailey: Signs professional tryout
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Bailey agreed to a professional tryout with the Senators on Thursday.
Bailey had eight goals and 25 points in 64 games with the Islanders last season. The Islanders dealt him to Chicago in June, and the Blackhawks subsequently bought out the final season of his six-year, $30 million contract. Although Bailey has fallen hard from his height of 71 points in 2017-18, the 33-year-old might still be a solid bottom-six forward this year.
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Josh Bailey: Waived for buyout
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Bailey was designated for waivers by the Blackhawks on Thursday in order to buy out his contract, Chris Johnston of TSN reports.
It's been an interesting day for Bailey who was acquired by the Hawks, along with a 2026 second-round pick, from the Islanders for future considerations, only for his new club to immediately terminate his contract. While New York has shed the full $5 million cap hit by trading the winger, Chicago will still be on the hook for $2.7 million this year and $1.2 million next season, assuming Bailey clears waivers. Since his career-best 2017-18 campaign in which he racked up 71 points, Bailey's numbers have steadily declined, including just 25 points in 64 games last season.
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Blackhawks' Josh Bailey: Traded in Draft Day deal
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Bailey has been traded to the Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations, reports the New York Islanders Twitter feed.
A second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft also goes with Bailey, who has one more year on his deal with a $5 million cap hit. He had eight goals and 25 points in 64 games with the Isles in 2022-23, and he will provide depth for the Hawks.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Resumes skating
Rotowire
Bailey (illness) is not expected to play Saturday against San
Jose despite returning to the ice for the morning skate, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Bailey was also a healthy scratch for Wednesday's 6-3 win over Anaheim. He didn't practice Friday because of an illness. Bailey has produced eight goals and 25 points in 61 contests this campaign.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Misses practice Friday
Rotowire
Bailey missed practice Friday with a non-COVID illness.
Bailey is questionable for Saturday's tilt in San Jose. The veteran forward has eight goals and 25 points in 65 games this season, his worst campaign since his rookie season in 2008-09 when he had seven goals and 25 points in 68 contests.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Gets two points Tuesday
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Bailey contributed a goal and an assist in the Islanders' 3-2 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday.
Bailey's marker early in the third period put New York up 2-1. He has eight goals and 25 points in 58 contests in 2022-23. Bailey is on a three-game point streak with two goals and four points in that span.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Scores goal in shootout loss
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Bailey scored a goal on two shots in the Islanders' 2-1 shootout loss to the Wild on Tuesday.
Bailey opened the scoring in the game, banging in a rebound off of Filip Gustavsson. This goal snaps a four-game pointless streak and gives him three points in February. On the season, Bailey has seven goals and 22 points in 56 games.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Bailey (upper body) will return to the lineup Sunday against Winnipeg, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Bailey, who has missed the past four games, has supplied six goals, 21 points and 66 shots on net in 54 contests this campaign. His return to action could bump call-up Arnaud Durandeau from the lineup.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: On road trip
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Bailey (upper body) has accompanied the team on its road trip to Winnipeg and Minnesota, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Bailey has already missed the last four games due to the injury, but it's encouraging that he's traveling with the team. That being said, the Islanders haven't announced whether Bailey will play Sunday versus the Jets. Bailey has been a disappointment all around this season, with only six goals and 21 points in 54 games. The team would love to move him and his contract by Friday's trade deadline, but such a trade is unlikely to materialize.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Not available Friday
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Bailey (upper body) isn't expected to play Friday against Los Angeles, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Bailey also missed the Islanders' previous three games because of the injury. He did take part in Friday's practice though, so he seems to be making progress in his recovery. The 33-year-old has six goals and 21 points in 54 contests this season. With Bailey still out, Arnaud Durandeau is projected to stay in the lineup for the third consecutive game.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Practicing Friday
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Bailey (upper body) is back at practice Friday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Bailey has missed the last three games after he was injured Feb. 17 against the Penguins. Bailey's best season was in 2017-18, when he had 18 goals and 53 assists. His offensive production has declined since then -- he has six goals and 21 points in 54 games this season.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Hasn't resumed skating
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Bailey (upper body) has yet to resume skating, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
It appears Bailey will probably miss at least a few more games with his upper-body issue, which will keep him on the shelf for a third straight contest Wednesday versus Winnipeg. Rookie Arnaud Durandeau will likely continue to fill a middle-six role until Bailey is cleared to return.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Not expected to return Monday
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Bailey (upper body) isn't expected to travel to Pittsburgh for Monday's game against the Penguins, Islanders coach Lane Lambert told Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now.
Bailey wasn't available for Saturday's 6-2 loss against Boston, so Monday's contest will represent his second straight game out of the lineup. He has six goals and 21 points in 54 outings this season. Ross Johnston drew into the lineup for Saturday's game and might play again Monday.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Won't play Saturday
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Bailey (upper body) won't play Saturday versus the Bruins, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
This should not come as a surprise, as Bailey had to leave the 5-4 win over the Penguins on Friday early due to the injury. The Islanders have not stated the exact nature of the injury or when they expect he will return to the lineup. The loss should not be significant for the team, as Bailey only has six goals and 15 assists in 54 games this season. Bailey was recently moved down to the third line after a short stint on the top line to try and get him going. Bailey will next get a chance to play Monday in a rematch versus the Penguins.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Records helper Thursday
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Bailey posted an assist in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Canucks.
Bailey helped out on a Kyle Palmieri goal in the first period. While Bailey has now gone 19 games without a goal, he's earned an assist in two of his last three outings. The 33-year-old playmaker is up to 21 points, 63 shots on net, 23 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating through 51 appearances. He's seen some top-line usage alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, but Bailey will need to show a bit more consistency to maintain that role.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Notches power-play assist
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Bailey registered a power-play assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Flyers.
This was Bailey's first point in the last six games. The Islanders seem to be frustrated by his lack of production, as he was bumped down to the fourth line ahead of the NHL All-Star break, and Bo Horvat -- who's enjoying a career year -- was acquired in a trade with the Canucks in an attempt to stabilize the top line. Bailey rejoined the top-six group of forwards and picked up 17:36 of ice time against the Flyers, but the pressure is on for him to shift into a better gear offensively.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Dropped to fourth line
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Bailey was demoted to the fourth line Friday versus the Red Wings, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
While the Islanders did defeat the Wings 2-0 on Friday to snap a six-game losing streak, Bailey failed to register a point and also didn't have a shot on goal, hit or blocked a shot in just under 14 minutes of ice time. Outside of the 2016-17 season, when Bailey had 71 points, he has generally been a disappointment, and this season may end up being his worst as he only has six goals and 13 assists in 46 games.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: Slides helper Monday
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Bailey logged an assist and blocked two shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Capitals.
Bailey ended a four-game point drought with his helper on Sebastian Aho's goal early in the first period. The 33-year-old Bailey hasn't gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive contests since Dec. 13-16, so he's not really the most consistent of forwards. The winger has six goals, 12 helpers, 57 shots on net, 19 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through 41 appearances this season.
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Islanders' Josh Bailey: One goal in last 13 games
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Bailey has only one goal and five assists in his last 13 games.
Bailey has six goals and 17 points in 39 games this season, and he has yet to score more than 18 goals in any season. The Islanders are currently out of a playoff spot, and if that continues, they will have decisions to make as the trade deadline approaches. Bailey's contract could make him difficult to move, as he's locked in at a $5 million cap hit through the end of next season, but New York might have other players who could be more attractive to playoff teams.
