NY Islanders Daily Dose: Rookie Camp Opens; A Door Opens for Josh Bailey

OVERTIME

Bailey signs PTO contract with Senators

When Josh Bailey penned his goodbye to New York Islanders fans in  on Wednesday, it served as closure for the 15-year veteran and also a sign that he was ready to move on. On Thursday, it was announced that the Ottawa Senators have signed the forward to a professional tryout (PTO) contract. Sens head coach DJ Smith was an assistant coach with Windsor when Bailey played in juniors, and former Islanders head coach Jack Capuano is an Ottawa assistant.

Bailey was traded by the Islanders before the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2026 second round back in June. GM Lou Lamoriello needed financial relief to sign his own unrestricted free agents on July 1, and there was no longer a defined role for Bailey on the roster after 1,057 games on Long Island, the third most in franchise history.

Best of luck, Josh!

📚 SOUND SMART: Johnny Boychuk, who was on the ice working with the rookies on Thursday, returned to the Islanders lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 for the first time since Aug. 1st. That night, the Islanders dressed seven defenseman in a playoff game for the first time since April 14, 1987, Game 5 vs. the Washington Capitals.

🎥: ISLES REWIND: On September 15, 2020, Jordan Eberle scored in double-OT of the Eastern Conference Finals as the Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 to force Game 6. Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves in the win, but his performance is most remembered for this epic celebratory slide.