Day After John Tavares Deal, Islanders Agree With Josh Bailey On Extension

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — The Islanders have locked up another of their top young players.

New York agreed to a two-year deal with Josh Bailey a day after extending John Tavares' contract.

Bailey was the Islanders' first-round pick, ninth overall, in 2008. The 21-year-old center had 11 goals and 17 assists for New York in 70 games last year. He has 34 goals and 54 assists in 211 games over three seasons.

The team announced the deal early Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

The Islanders operate on a low budget, and have to concern themselves more with reaching the floor of the salary cap rather than the upper levels. New York has done a good job in signing young core players the club hopes will get them back to the playoffs and beyond.

Tavares, Bailey, Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner and Kyle Okposo are all under the team's control for the near future.

The Islanders have finished last in the Atlantic Division four straight years, have missed the playoffs in five of six seasons, and haven't won a postseason series since 1993. Their last-place overall finish in the 2008-09 season enabled them to pick Tavares No. 1 overall in the draft.

"The Stanley Cup is what we want," Tavares said after announcing his six-year extension on Thursday. "That's what pushes us. That's what we're driven for. Obviously, sooner rather than later would be great. For us, this season it's one day at a time. Being a young team, we have a little bit more experience now. I think it's time for us to take that next step."

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