Islanders: Josh Bailey 2020 Season In Review

Josh Bailey continued his steady play for the New York Islanders in 2020 finishing with 43 points and 14 goals in 68 games.

Another year, another consistent effort from Josh Bailey. For the fourth year in a row, Bailey was one of the most reliable forwards for the New York Islanders finishing with 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists).

At this point, you should know the story. Bailey was called up as a 19-year-old in 2008-2009 and struggled to get his footing in the NHL. Over the course of eight seasons, he was fairly mediocre topping out at 41 points as his career-high.

Things changed during his age 27 season. Bailey exploded for 56 points and the rest was history. 2019-2020, was no different for him.

He scored four goals and nine points in the month of October getting off to a hot start. His production dipped slightly in November, dropping to six points in 13 games before he was able to turn it on again the rest of the way.

Even when the Isles struggled in January through the end of the regular season, Bails remained productive. In 30 games, he finished with 20 points (a .67 points per game percentage).

If you take his production over the shortened season and pace it out, Bailey would’ve finished with 52 points and 17 goals. At that point, four years in a row of 50+ points is more than fair to receive total praise, right?

Wrong. There is still somehow a sub-section of Islander fans who cling to past rhetoric when critiquing Josh Bailey, and we haven’t even gotten to the playoffs yet.

In 22 playoff games, Bailey put up 20 points (2 goals, 18 assists). He took his game to another level averaging 19:13 of ice time during the span of the Islanders playoff run.

With his consistent play in the regular season, and his clutch playoff performance Josh Bailey receives an A grade from me. He’s a solid second-line option to go along with Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.

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In 2020-2021, expect to see more of the same from the former ninth overall pick. At this point, you can pencil him in for 50 points and 15 goals every year, and that’s quite okay for his $5 million cap hit.