Islanders first-round draft pick Josh Bailey skated early with the rest of the injured players this morning, but the club is planning to make an announcement involving Bailey after the regular practice today. Most likely, that means he has been signed to an NHL contract.
New coach Scott Gordon indicated yesterday that it would be difficult to keep Bailey on the NHL roster even for the nine games allowed to preserve his junior eligibility if he is unable to participate in more than the one exhibition game he’s already played. But the Isles still can sign him and send him back to his junior team in Windsor. If he can’t play at the NHL level to start the season, that would be another way to feature him in a good way.
This is a team that needs good news right now, but according to the new blog authored by former public relations director Chris Botta, defenseman Andy Sutton underwent surgery today for a likely hand injury and could be out up to six weeks. A team spokesman declined to confirm the report but said the club may have an announcement in the next day or two about its injured players.
The team sent out a copy of the NHL injury policy, indicating it has the right to withhold injury information without sanctions from the league. However, the majority of teams have continued to provide forthright information about injuries to their fans, ticketholders and the media. Witness immediate reports of surgery for other players around the league, such as Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei Gonchar and even reports of minor injuries, such as the strained groin suffered by Montreal’s Alexei Kovalev.
I could go on and on, but this wrong-headed policy does a disservice not only to fans but to the players themselves. Most of them understand it’s better to tell the truth so the public understands what they might be dealing with and how it might have affected their play or how hard they might be working on a comeback. Arguments about “protecting” the players are nothing more than a diversion. It might protect management’s interest to some degree, but it doesn’t protect players.
The Islanders also have made one other move today, recalling forward Trevor Smith from Bridgeport. They described it as an addition to the roster.
Comments (13)
Good to see Bailey will be signed. I just hope the Islanders start to tell everyone what's actually going on with players and keep it "in house." The fans are what keep that house intact.
Re: the injury disclosure policy.
You say it's ridiculous, and then Sean Avery basically kicks a consussed Rick DP in the head 2 years ago and ruins the season. I'm fine with not disclosing anything if it prevents crap like that.
Sign Bailey cut Hilbert
Hilbert is not going to get cut.
He's a big part of the penalty killing unit, and he's already played under Gordon.
Hilbert stays. Sorry to dissapoint.
Stop blaming Sean Avery for everything you don't like about the Rangers. He's not even on the team anymore.
Wow - let's make a cup run after that signing - get the playoff tickets printed.....after that display last night, 16 shots for a whole game no matter who is in the lineup is a disgrace...who will be scoring goals for this team!!!
Bailey being hurt already proves the point that we shouldn't have traded down and should have taken Schenn or Filatov with our 1st round pick.
It's getting harder to root for this team when we just keep making these mistakes over and over.
We should have had Spezza in 2001, we should have had Schenn in 2008.
Good for Josh! Hope he gets a few games in here before he Captains his team to the Memorial cup. :)
How does a minor injury in his first NHL training camp prove anything? If he spends half his time the next few seasons on the IR I could understand the point, but using one small injury sustained during his first time playing with the big boys smacks of subjective prejudice.
The Islanders need to adjust their injury policy. It would be helpful if Greg would identify where the directive originated--was it the PR department? Garth Snow? Chris Dey? That would help give us an idea of where criticism can be directed.
Bottom line, for an organization that is trying to cast itself as the most player-friendly team in the league, just qualifying to not receive sanctions from the league is absolutely not enough.
"Bailey being hurt already proves the point that we shouldn't have traded down and should have taken Schenn or Filatov with our 1st round pick."
That might be the stupidest post yet. And there alot of them. Especially when Filatov missed a couple of weeks earlier with a injury.
"Bailey being hurt already proves the point that we shouldn't have traded down and should have taken Schenn or Filatov with our 1st round pick."
That might be the stupidest post yet. And there alot of them. Especially when Filatov missed a couple of weeks earlier with a injury.
Above not me...Keep it up troll...Your days are numbered, so live as me as long as you can loser! Better hope I don't find out who yo uare, or you will get slpaaed around like Hollwig vs. Simon. Biatch!
Since the Bobbleheads need toughness, perhaps Steady could be signed for a 4th line banger. Steady is a tough guy who loves wine coolers.