s23 - Sophomore Jump [WB10]

Vegas, NV - So much for the so-called sophomore slump for Vegas Golden Knights forward Josh Bailey.

The s19 eighth overall is in his second NHL season and with just under a dozen games left on the schedule has soared past most of his rookie numbers last season.

Bailey has posted 50 points to date, an improvement from the 36 he had in 84 games as a rookie. The 14 extra points have all been assists, as he now sits with 29 this year after only registering 15 all of last season. He has 21 goals this year so far, just like he did last year.

Other areas of improvement include going from -3 to a +4 this year and reducing his penalty minutes from 57 to 38. The Ontario-products shot total has improved to from 143 to 171. 

It will be interesting to see just how high these numbers climb before the end of the year, benchmarks the club hopes he can smash again next year.

These numbers are tracking toward him continuing to develop as one of the next great forwards in the VHL as he’s only 24 with 2 more year end progressions to help boost his attributes.

“At the time of the draft people thought I should have chosen Cam Atkinson with the pick,” Vegas Golden Knights General Manager David Zammit remarked. “Take a look at the two now, ones in his third year in the AHL producing the same offensive numbers as the one in the NHL is. I guess I finally made the right pick.”

The team won’t have to worry about him jumping ship anytime soon either as he’s inked a four year deal worth $5.17 million per season that will kick-in beginning next season.

He’s already a winner, in his lone year at the AHL level, he helped the Owen Sound Attack capture a title recording 62 points in the regular season and another 16 points in the playoffs.

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