Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Bailey sent to Soo

The Kitchener Rangers announced Tuesday that they have traded third-year forward Justin Bailey to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in exchange for 2015 draft prospect David Miller and four draft picks.

The Rangers’ leading scorer, Bailey had racked up 22 goals and 41 points in 35 games prior to the deal. As a result, Bailey goes from the last place team in the Midwest Division to the Greyhounds, who have occupied the top spot in the West Division all season long.

Bailey is walking into a good situation in Sault Ste. Marie. The high-octane Hounds have scored 177 goals this season, just one behind the league-leading Erie Otters

In addition to fellow Sabres prospect Jean Dupuy, Bailey will join a talented fleet of forwards that includes 2014 first-round pick Jared McCann (VAN), high-flying World Junior star Sergey Tolchinsky (CAR), gritty worker Michael Bunting (ARI) and Florida native Gabe Guertler, who joined the Hounds this season after spending 2013-14 with the University of Minnesota. The Hound also boast two high-end forwards available for the 2015 NHL draft, Blake Speers and Zach Senyshyn.

Team Canada star Darnell Nurse (EDM) anchors the blue line along with 2014 fourth-rounder Kyle Jenkins (CAR), while Team USA netminder Brandon Halverson (NYR) has been a formidable backstop

It’s always tough to leave your teammates and your billets, but this is a good hockey move that should pay dividends for Bailey on the eve of his pro career. He’ll be insulated in the strong lineup with plenty of playmakers available to feed him the puck, and of course the expectation is that Hounds will take a good run in the OHL playoffs with a possible matchup with the Otters to settle the Western Conference.



The deal marks the second time in a week that a Sabres CHL prospect was traded. Last week in the QMJHL, Vaclav Karabacek was moved from Gatineau to Baie-Comeau as part of a high-profile deal that sent Valentin Zykov (LAK) back the other way.