New York Islanders' Josh Bailey signs two-year deal worth $2.1 million moments before deadline
New York Islanders do not joke around when they say that any player who does not agree to terms with the team before the training camp begins will remain unsigned. Remembering the Sean Bergenheim case in 2006, young forward, Josh Bailey, signed a last minute
contract with the franchise on Thursday.
With less than a day to go before training camp officially kicked off, Bailey signed a two-year contract with his original draft team, worth an estimated $2.1 million.
The much awaited deal came nearly a day after they re-signed their rowdy shooter, John Tavares, to a huge six-year deal and felt giving, or else Josh Bailey would have been shown the door had he remained at ease.
Bailey certainly did not want it to end up like this, but feels that since it is finally over with, he can concentrate on other important aspects of his life, like his playing.
“What player wants it to go to the final day”? Bailey termed the deal during an informal practise session in Syosset. “I don’t think either side wants it to get down to the final day, but it doesn’t always work like that”.
Most of his teammates were worried about the rookies' situation and were happy to hear that he had gotten it over with by finally striking a deal.
“I just hope nothing goes wrong with that”, teammate Matt Moulson told The New York Post on Thursday about Bailey’s deal. “He’s an important piece of this team”.
Coming out of a three-year, entry-level contract with New York Islanders, Bailey was not quite able to sign a deal of his choice, which is evident from his previous and current salary cap hit.
During the three-year deal, it was a $1.725 million limit, which included an annual salary of $875,000, primary bonuses worth $850,000 and $87,500 a year in secondary bonuses.
The new two-year deal will pay him $800,000 the upcoming season and a fixed $1.3 million amount the one following it, after which he will remain a restricted free agent and would be eligible to file for salary arbitration in 2013.
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