Real issue with bailey is that he’s played in a bigger role than he should because of how terrible this forward core was constructed. If they added a real top line winger for Barzy and pushed everyone else down the depth chart than I think he would be fine.

Well yeah, he’s a 3rd line LW and has been playing 2nd line RW since Trotz took over pretty much. Overpaid and overused is the main issue with him, but we’re evaluating him on his production for the money and TOI which has to be negative at this point. If Bailey made 3M and played 13-14 min a night, I’d find it hard to believe he’d receive 90% of the hate he does

His contract would’ve aged better if the cap went it up like it was supposed to

I think u could live with him on line 2, if you had a legit first line. But they don’t.

Agreed, but I think we have to recognize the role Covid, the Pulock/Nelson injuries + Chara and Greene played in the isles struggles last year. He looked ok in game 1. I don’t read too much into the preseason, but at least he looked engaged and was trying to play with pace.

Yeah the Isles struggled as a whole, but Bailey’s play style just isn’t viable for the role we need from him. He’s too slow to not score and play 16+ minutes without being physical. Yeah it’s a Bailey problem, but coaching and management is just at fault as much for exposing him this badly. Like yeah Bailey ain’t that good, but he ain’t that bad either, he can’t control the coach wanted him being a top 3 forward in TOI to play all situations.