Isles' Bailey in brusque introduction

By Herald wire services / NHL Notes Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Added 6m ago Josh Bailey flashed a wide, kid-like grin - quite apropos for an 18-year-old hockey player just starting to live the NHL life. The New York Islanders’ most recent first-round draft pick dressed in the orange and blue for the first time at a rookie minicamp last week and took his first spin at the suburban practice rink in Syosset, N.Y. Any impressions he can make on that otherwise ordinary sheet of ice could mean the difference between a ticket to the big leagues or another season back in juniors. “I think about it all the time,” the Ontario native said. “You can’t come in here and not do well. It’s just up to me to get in the best shape that I can and do as well as I can in this camp and the next camp and hopefully give myself the best shot.” Bailey... [read full story]