NHL Scout on Justin Bailey

The San Jose Sharks have signed Justin Bailey.

The 28-year-old winger was signed to the San Jose Barracuda and leads them with six goals and is second with 11 points through 16 contests.

The #SjSharks signed 28 y/o UFA F Justin Bailey to 1 year deal

NHL 775K
Minors 300K

Rep'd by Pat Brisson @CAAHockey

6G 11P in 16 AHL GPhttps://t.co/kY58EA2PhH

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) November 27, 2023

The 2013 Buffalo Sabres’ second-round pick has appeared in 82 NHL games, scoring five goals and four assists in parts of seven seasons with the Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, and Philadelphia Flyers.

Perhaps the 6-foot-4 Bailey’s enviable combination of size and speed can make an NHL impact this time around. Bailey scored a goal for the San Jose Sharks in three pre-season appearances and also impressed in the intersquad scrimmages.

Coming off the bus, Bailey certainly looks the part of an NHL’er.

“He competes. He is really fast,” an NHL scout emphasized to San Jose Hockey Now.

So size, speed, and compete? Why hasn’t Bailey stuck in the NHL?

The scout had no answer: “It’s a good question.”

Bailey might never get a better opportunity than right now.

The last-place San Jose Sharks need all the help that they can get, with Tomas Hertl out tonight and winger Filip Zadina placed on IR. Zadina joins wingers Alexander Barabanov and Oskar Lindblom on the shelf.

Zadina has what was described by San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn as a nagging upper-body injury.

So the talented Bailey is going to get another chance to make an NHL impression. Will he make this one count?