Leafs sign college UFA Casey Bailey

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Wasn't sure where to put this...

College UFA Casey Bailey of Penn State expected to sign today with an NHL team. TOR is a top contender to get the goal-scoring forward.

Per Friedman and McKenzie, so probably something to it.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Wasn't sure where to put this...

College UFA Casey Bailey of Penn State expected to sign today with an NHL team. TOR is a top contender to get the goal-scoring forward.

Per Friedman and McKenzie, so probably something to it.

@chrismpeters

Quick notes on Bailey: Great as frosh, so-so as soph, scoring machine as jr. 23yo, 6-3, 195. Heck of a shot. 22 G, 40 pts in 37 GP this year

@chrismpeters

Some additional info: Bailey leads country with 211 shots on goal, average of 5.70 per game. 17 goals at even strength.

EDIT: Cox says the Leafs are set to announce the signing.

 

[L K]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

[tweet]579408529326522370[/tweet]
[tweet]579410721466925056[/tweet]

Cox and McKenzie both saying Leafs are set to sign him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Friedman makes it three, sounds official:

[tweet]579413523018723328[/tweet]

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Wallet found.

 

[L K]

Bailey's expectation on signing was NHL games this year and a capped 2-year deal that burns the first year this year.  He's 23 so his ELC would only be a 2-year contract.  Probably too late in the day for him to dress tonight.

This might be enough to get me to watch at least 1 game down the stretch and see how he looks.  Some comparisons being made of him are in the Patrick Sharp/really lite version of Rick Nash.
Regarding his mediocre second season, that also coincided with a bad Penn St team playing its first year in the Big 10.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

TheLeafsNation ran some profiles on potential college UFAs, this is what they had on Bailey:

Getting past Penn State grossness, Bailey is the best available goal scorer among the free agents. He?s a 6?3 Alaskan who didn't do too much in his first couple of seasons, so you could make the case that he?s blooming a little too late.

Interesting thoughts from SBN College Hockey who they ranked as the 40th best prospect:

?Bailey's heavy shot and a willingness to unleash it from anywhere makes him a dangerous offensive threat. He's also a physical force on the defensive end of the ice.?
Interesting numbers from College Hockey Inc.:

21 goals and 37 points in 32 games (1.16 ppg)
Of the 37 points, 28 of them are at even strength.
He also averages 5.81 shots per game.

Verdict:

If the Leafs are interested in adding an offensive prospect Bailey is probably the best bet. At the very least he?d help the Marlies put up points next season which may continue to be a challenge for them.

http://theleafsnation.com/2015/3/5/back-to-school-which-communications-major-could-improve-the-leafs

 

[CarltonTheBear]

A more in-depth scouting report on Bailey:

As a forward, Bailey certainly has the scoring touch needed to make it into the NHL. The junior is the only player in the Big Ten to have hit 20 goals on the season while sitting at fourth in the NCAA in goals, three behind Union's senior forward Daniel Ciampini for the top spot in the league.

While goals and points are all kept on a stat sheet, a lot of the things Bailey does aren't found on a page of rows and columns. Bailey is an opportunistic forward with great instincts and an even better nose for the puck. Take the GIF below, taken from Penn State's comeback 5-4 loss against Ohio State last month:

On the second of two goals for Bailey on the evening, the forward makes this scoring chance - and essentially Penn State's comeback - happen by forcing an Ohio State turnover. Thanks to pressure from Holstrom behind the net, Bailey (No. 25) cuts off the Buckeye's clearing attempt in the offensive zone and takes the wayward pass at the boards. Bailey shows good awareness on a no-look backhander back to Holstrom as the pair cycle positions and the senior threads the puck through traffic for the eventual goal-scorer to dig out of Ohio State's skates for his second strike of the game.

That clutch goal from Bailey has become a staple of his this season, managing to find the puck at an opportune time with the team down and putting it in the back of the net to spark a comeback.

Read more: http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/2/20/8072359/casey-bailey-penn-state-free-agent-scouting-report

A couple other goals/gifs in the link.

 

[Fanatic]

I am hearing that he will sign a 2 year deal and then play right away to burn the first year of his contract and that this is something he wanted. I can make some safe assumptions about that, but since I am not sure and since Capgeek is not around anymore, can someone please explain this. He is 23 now, so what happens after this 2 year deal.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I am hearing that he will sign a 2 year deal and then play right away to burn the first year of his contract and that this is something he wanted. I can make some safe assumptions about that, but since I am not sure and since Capgeek is not around anymore, can someone please explain this. He is 23 now, so what happens after this 2 year deal.

RFA

 

[Fanatic]

Thanks. What age would he be a UFA?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

27 or 7 seasons played I believe.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Dave Nonis says Mark Hunter played a key role in Bailey, Soshnikov signings. Tracked both players closely.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

 

[Frank E]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

You've also got Lindstrom (sp?) and Brewer, and ? coming off this year too though, right?

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

You've also got Lindstrom (sp?) and Brewer, and ? coming off this year too though, right?

Do those contracts come off the list as soon as the clock ticks down on the Leaf's season?  Is it July 1?  Just curious as trade-floor deals may need room for contracts coming back.

 

[Frank E]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

You've also got Lindstrom (sp?) and Brewer, and ? coming off this year too though, right?

Do those contracts come off the list as soon as the clock ticks down on the Leaf's season?  Is it July 1?  Just curious as trade-floor deals may need room for contracts coming back.

The other boys here are a way better resource, but I believe they're done the last game of the season. 

 

[Deebo]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

You've also got Lindstrom (sp?) and Brewer, and ? coming off this year too though, right?

Do those contracts come off the list as soon as the clock ticks down on the Leaf's season?  Is it July 1?  Just curious as trade-floor deals may need room for contracts coming back.

The other boys here are a way better source, but I believe they're done the last game of the season. 

July 1.

 

[Frank E]

Just so I'm clear on contracts moving forward.  The Leafs came into the year with 49 contracts on board.

Traded away: Ashton, Broll, Franson, Santorelli, Winnik, Holzer, Clarkson, Jokinen, Abbott (9 out)
They took on: Panik, Leipsic, Jokinen, Sill, Brennan, Horton, Lindstrom, Erikson, Brewer (9 in)

They now signed Soshnikov and potentially Bailey.  Does that put them at 50 contracts or do Soshnikov and Bailey not count until they start playing professional hockey?

Soshnikov won't count until his contract actually kicks in. That Ashton and Broll trade looks pretty important now huh.

You've also got Lindstrom (sp?) and Brewer, and ? coming off this year too though, right?

Do those contracts come off the list as soon as the clock ticks down on the Leaf's season?  Is it July 1?  Just curious as trade-floor deals may need room for contracts coming back.

The other boys here are a way better source, but I believe they're done the last game of the season. 

July 1.

CLOSE ENOUGH.