Islanders select C Bailey with ninth pick

OTTAWA (TICKER) —After trading down twice, the New York Islanders on Friday selected center Josh Bailey from the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

New York, which entered the day with the fifth overall selection, traded that pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the No. 7 pick, which it in turn shipped to the Nashville Predators for the ninth selection.

Bailey, 18, registered 29 goals and a team-leading 96 points in 67 games for Windsor last season. His 67 assists ranked third overall in the OHL.

“I was just ecstatic to be chosen by the Islanders,” Bailey said. “Just to be selected by an NHL team is an honor, but to be selected by such a wonderful organization, words just can’t describe it. … I was hoping it would be New York because of the guys they’ve got from the top all the way down. It just seems like it’s going to be a good group of guys to play with.”

A native of Bowmanville, Ontario, Bailey finished the campaign with a nine-game points streak, notching five tallies and 18 assists as the Spitfires finished third in the Western Conference. The 6-foot, 188-pounder participated in the OHL All-Star Classic and netted a pair of goals in the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game.

Bailey is not expected to be a high-end offensive player in the NHL but has good skating ability and vision on the ice. Said to have the makings of a future captain, he figures to be a mainstay on a checking line and the penalty-killing unit.

“Obviously, I’m going to work as hard as I can to make the team next year,” Bailey said. “I’ll do whatever it takes, and if I get sent to Windsor for another year, I won’t be upset. We’ve got a good team down there, so I’m just going to work as hard as I can to hopefully improve. I’m going to try to play my game as much as I can at the next level by getting into even better shape.”


NYIFORLIFE.com REACTION: Well, it wasn't a boring ride to say the least. I'm still shocked that my wife watched the whole first round with me; even if she was reading most of the time. Seriously, any woman who will stick by you while you're watching the NHL draft is a keeper. A little free advice to all of you hockey fans out there. Were a full service website!

Regarding the trading down stuff, I am guessing that with the fanbase that this is seen as fairly controversial but you have to give Garth and Ryan Jankowski one thing: they got the guy they has their sights on and they added more picks to play with later today. There's all sorts of rumors going on (like the ever-present McCabe stuff) regarding what the organization is planning but one thing is true: they are going with the kids and they're stockpiling options in what is universally described as a very deep draft.

One thing Bob McKenzie mentioned regarding Filatov stuck with me. He mentioned that without an agreement between the Russian Federation and the NHL, Russian players could come here, find out that they don't like it, and just go home to play in the new Super League for a lot more money. That makes Filatov a double-jeopardy pick.

Anyone else kinda creeped out by Pierre McGuire's reaction to the Leafs taking Luke Schenn?

The Case for Luke Schenn

Well, everyone is else is speculating so I may as well do it too.

If the Islanders stand pat at 5 and Nikita Filatov is off the board, I want Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski to select Luke Schenn, defenseman from the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.

Here's why: For one thing, I've actually seen him play. He was on Canada's gold medal winning World Juniors team this past Christmas. I was impressed with the edge he brought to the ice and how composed he (and really, all of the kids) was during the tournament; which has to be the biggest pressure situation any of those players will have played in at this juncture of their young lives. Plus--and Pierre McGuire was all over this broadcasting the games--Schenn makes a heck of a nice first pass out of the zone. In the "new" NHL, that first pass is more important that ever because it stretches the defense.

Schenn is almost always compared to Adam Foote. See, to me, being mentioned as a guy who plays the game like Adam Foote is just an incredible thing. Foote has been one of the toughest, most talented, and smart defensemen of this generation of NHLers. No one questions his guts, fortitude, and leadership abilities. If there is a player coming up who is comparable to Foote and you have a chance to take him, then by all means, you have to take that guy and let him anchor your blueline for the next 10-12 years.

Don't take it from me...take it from TSN.ca. They write: (Schenn) is without question the best defensive defenseman available in the draft, a big, physical presence with an edge who perfectly understands his role as a shutdown defender. The bonus is that he makes a great first pass, doesn't try to play outside of his ability and is as mentally tough as he is physically tough.

And this is from NHL Central Scouting: He has a tough edge to him, he has the ability to, if caught up ice, to work hard and get back in time to recover. Needs to improve his decision-making.

Um, show me the kid at 18 who doesn't need to improve his decision-making. That kind of stuff comes out through attrition. He's going to be a good player in the NHL for a long, long time.

I know that the draft is tough to gauge and difficult to predict, but I am thinking that at 5 that the Islanders are going to get a crack at either Filatov or Schenn. That is going to be a difficult choice to make because in Filatov you're getting a guy who is projected to be a scorer and the fan base is desperate for goals and an improved offense. The issue there is that Filatov is, by all accounts, not ready to step into the NHL tomorrow. He is going to need some seasoning and is actually too young to be sent to the Sound Tigers. If he does come to North America, he is going to have to play in the Major Juniors somewhere to get accustomed to the style of play. Plus, the kid has to fill out some.

With Luke Schenn, he has already been in pressure situations like the WJC and by playing in the WHL playoffs. He knows how to play the style and can probably contribute in the American League if needed.

The way the draft is looking now, the key to the entire top of the first round lies in Los Angeles. The Kings ownership is committed to building through the draft and they have quite a few young defenders in the system. Still, conventional wisdom sides with the "best athlete available" no-brainer when picking high in the draft. With so many quality defensemen available--and with Filatov actually coming to North America as a wild card--you expect Dean Lombardi to pick one of the top defensemen. He just has to.

After Steven Stamkos, Nikita Filatov is the highest-rated can't-miss guy. Figure he is off the boards at five. That may line it up nicely for Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski to make the right pick for the team, Luke Schenn. Defense, while not sexy, wins championships.