The Development of Justin Bailey

Justin Bailey, a Williamsville, NY native was a very highly touted prospect coming out of the nationally recognized Buffalo Regals program. He was a 1st Round pick, 11th overall, during the 2011 USHL Futures Draft and was also selected in the 7th Round, 128th overall during the 2011 OHL Priority Selection. Following his time with the Regals, Justin and his family decided that his development would be better suited playing with the Long Island Royals U16 team rather than in the USHL with the Indiana Ice, a decision that in hindsight, appears to be exactly what the young forward needed. Bailey spent the next season living with then Long Island Royals head coach Pat LaFontaine and his family, leading the U16 Royals to a National Championship along the way.

Following his time in Long Island the 6’3″ Bailey took his game to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. The move from any U16 program to the Ontario Hockey League is a big jump for any player and Bailey was no different. Although he struggled at times during his first season in Kitchener, Bailey still finished with 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 57 games as a 17 year old, showing flashes of what an offense force he could be given a few years of development. Leading up to the 2013 NHL Entry draft scouts had Bailey projected as a prospect with high end offensive potential, likely to be selected anywhere from the late 1st Round to early 3rd Round.

When Bailey heard his name called during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, his excitement was obvious. I had interviewed Justin for this site just two days before the draft. Although he was very sincere and very honest when he told me it would be an honor to be selected by any NHL team, it was clear that it would would be something special for a kid from Buffalo hear the words “With the….pick, The Buffalo Sabres select, Justin Bailey, forward from the Kitchener Rangers.” And, as luck would have it, the Buffalo Sabres did just that, using their 2nd Round pick, 52nd overall to select Williamsville, NY native Justin Bailey of the Kitchener Rangers.

Bailey attended the Buffalo Sabres development camp following his draft year and was by all accounts, just another player. Bailey was a prospect with some size who showed flashes of skill just like many prospects at Sabres Development Camp. But as Bailey was still very young and as was expected, he was returned to the Kitchener Rangers. Following his draft year Bailey upped his offensive totals to 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points in 54 games. After his second season in Kitchener, it was very apparent to scouts and media alike that Justin was adding some size and strength to his 6’3″ frame and could be a very dangerous player during the 2014-2015 OHL season.

Bailey Takes His Game To The Next Level

Justin followed up his second season in Kitchener with a very noticeable commitment to off-season training and looked poised to take his game to a completely new level. He was one of, if not the, best prospect on the ice for the Sabres during the the summer of 2014. Bailey had been working extremely hard both on, and off the ice to improve his game and many people in the Sabres organization noticed it. Inexplicably, Bailey was robbed of an invite to the Team USA World Junior Camp during the summer of 2014 and did not end up on the final roster for the 2015 World Junior Championships.

The Team USA World Junior snub surely added fuel to Bailey’s fire and the young forward seemed to take the slight very personally as the 2014-2015 OHL season began. Bailey erupted for 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points in 35 games to start the season for the Kitchener Rangers and was in the Top 20 in scoring for for most of the season. Bailey was lead Kitchener in scoring at a rate of more than a point per game, quite a feat considering the last place Rangers struggled to find the back of the net most nights.

On January 7th, 2015, the Kitchener Rangers traded Bailey to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, a team loaded with talent looking to establish themselves as OHL contenders alongside the Oshawa Generals and Erie Otters. Since joining the Greyhounds, Bailey has been nothing short of spectacular. After 14 games with his new team, Bailey has totaled 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 14 games, bringing his season totals to 31 goals and 30 assists for 61 points in 49 games. Bailey now finds himself in an ideal situation, playing with plenty of high-end offensive talent with the Greyhounds. These offensive talents will likely be on display late into the post season as the Greyhounds look poised for a deep run in the OHL Playoffs and potentially a Memorial Cup appearance.

The Future

I have spoken with Kris Baker of Sabresprospects.com about Bailey’s development very often over the last year and it seems like every time I hear from Kris, he has a lot to say about Justin’s future.

“Bailey was a regular at the First Niagara Center weight room over the summer, and the results immediately paid off with a strong showing for the Sabres at the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, MI. Bailey was one of a few bright spots in the tournament, looking faster, stronger, and more determined in loose puck battles. He was denied a look at an NHL preseason contest, but the ramp-up immediately resumed upon his return to the OHL. He still has a finesse game to him, but it’s as if he started to realize how big and strong he is, and the assertiveness has brought out the best in his game. He’s lowering his shoulder more and leaning towards the middle when taking defenders one-on-one. The puck is popping off his tape as his velocity and accuracy have improved. Bailey is going to be a big part of what should be a deep Soo playoff run. The experience should help the rapidly improving forward as he takes on AHL level competition in 2015-16.” – Kris Baker of Sabres Prospects

With Tim Murray making a very strong statement about his desire to see his team get faster, stronger and most importantly bigger, a player like Bailey seems to fit the mold of what Murray is looking for perfectly. It’s no stretch to say that if Bailey’s development continues on it’s current path, he could very well find himself as big part of the rebuild, and future, of the Buffalo Sabres.