I think Bailey has been pretty consistent this year playing positional, pretty sound defensive hockey and good on the PK. His scoring and points have been consistent too:
Not good with Comeau, Martin or Rolston....not so good at center.
Good when with more creative, complimentary players Okposo, Franzie, or other top 6type players....far better and more comfortable at wing apparantly than center.
Put him with good linemates (not a knock on MM - he is great at what he does - just not a compliment for Bailey except on PK) and you will have far better results.
Bailey's problems have more to do with how he is MANAGED than the player himself. His coach could not get through his thick skull the right way to utilize Bailey and Bailey's success right now should be another indictment of Capuano's coaching.
It is arguable that Bailey might just be the second most talented forward on this roster. I love Bailey on the wing and how he plays a more physical game, finishing checks and just looks like a good hockey player. I wonder what his numbers would be on JT's wing...
hmmmm. i'll give you an analogy: You (let's call you Fred Fenster) and your girlfriend decide to have a Friday night apart. You go out with some of your boys, one of whom (let's call him Verbal Kint) is in ithe market for a fine young lady. Lo and behold, you and your friends encounter some particularly fine ladies. Verbal finds one to be ravishing. He remains reserved around her at first, not wanting to appear drunk, because he actually digs her. You, however, chat them up with no reservation whatsoever. You know your girl is going to be home at 2 or so, and life will continue. These stranger ladies though, they're digging on your loose vibe and, as the night progresses, one asks you, yes you Fenster, to leave the premises with her. Kint, on the other hand, has somehow internalized the pressure of the situation and is coming off like a know-it-all and really just seems to be turning off the lady he's trying to win....
It's the pressure man. When you've got nothing to lose, you play LOOSE. that's why JB's points don't impress people as much as if he was playing consistently all year and then **BAM** went on a streak in the PLAYOFFS.
Listen, I think JB will be fine. I'm just not impressed by points in these games. Happy to have them, but can't wait for the day when some Islander can step up in the motherlovin' PLAYOFFS. (i miss them sooooo much...)
Soooo what your saying is that all jb is lacking is a girl friend? I kid. I kid. However, the silver lining of your example is that deep down inside jb is a charming fellow (i.e., a talented hockey player) . He just needs to be more of a player (i.e., not worry about whether he belongs in the nhl). I thing your analogy works but it actually supports the notion that jb's late season surge is a meaningful indicator of future success. Because jb's as an individual is becoming confident that he belongs in the nhl therefore his latent talent is surfacing. I think pressure to make the playoffs affects the team as a whole but doesn't apply so well in explaining an individual hockey players success.
I think Bailey has been pretty consistent this year playing positional, pretty sound defensive hockey and good on the PK. His scoring and points have been consistent too:
Not good with Comeau, Martin or Rolston....not so good at center.
Good when with more creative, complimentary players Okposo, Franzie, or other top 6type players....far better and more comfortable at wing apparantly than center.
Put him with good linemates (not a knock on MM - he is great at what he does - just not a compliment for Bailey except on PK) and you will have far better results.
Bailey's problems have more to do with how he is MANAGED than the player himself. His coach could not get through his thick skull the right way to utilize Bailey and Bailey's success right now should be another indictment of Capuano's coaching.
It is arguable that Bailey might just be the second most talented forward on this roster. I love Bailey on the wing and how he plays a more physical game, finishing checks and just looks like a good hockey player. I wonder what his numbers would be on JT's wing...
I agree, Capuano cannot see the most obvious things OR he does and just doesn't follow up with any of it. I swear, most of the fans on this board could see the chemistry between certain players and what their strengths are better than the friggen coaching staff.
Soooo what your saying is that all jb is lacking is a girl friend? I kid. I kid. However, the silver lining of your example is that deep down inside jb is a charming fellow (i.e., a talented hockey player) . He just needs to be more of a player (i.e., not worry about whether he belongs in the nhl). I thing your analogy works but it actually supports the notion that jb's late season surge is a meaningful indicator of future success. Because jb's as an individual is becoming confident that he belongs in the nhl therefore his latent talent is surfacing. I think pressure to make the playoffs affects the team as a whole but doesn't apply so well in explaining an individual hockey players success.
both Fenster and Kint are JB; Fenster is JB now, while Kint is JB before the playoffs were out of reach.
my point is that, given the context, now is not a good time to judge what JB's doing. just like the guy who's got a lady, JB has less pressure to perform now then he did even 1 month ago. his performance is therefore less weighty. i won't dismiss how he performed like Kint all season long (regardless of what additional reasons are- which I grant are real- like poor linemates and maybe even coaching). it wouldn't be fair to the overall picture.
i don't put stock in performances when the proverbial ship has already sailed. again, i think JB's developing OK given the circumstances. next year will be telling.
both Fenster and Kint are JB; Fenster is JB now, while Kint is JB before the playoffs were out of reach.
my point is that, given the context, now is not a good time to judge what JB's doing. just like the guy who's got a lady, JB has less pressure to perform now then he did even 1 month ago. his performance is therefore less weighty. i won't dismiss how he performed like Kint all season long (regardless of what additional reasons are- which I grant are real- like poor linemates and maybe even coaching). it wouldn't be fair to the overall picture.
i don't put stock in performances when the proverbial ship has already sailed. again, i think JB's developing OK given the circumstances. next year will be telling.
In your example, we'd also have to consider that "Bailey" is now hanging out with better looking players who he plays off of better. They're giving him more opportunities out there to "finish". He's getting more chances to score and that is building his confidence. The players with him also feed off of this and JB's own skills.
Also, Bailey is now playing in a different position. He's seeing things differently. He has less responsibility and can be more care free because of that.
I think some stock needs to be placed into the above; it's not as simple as playing games while out of contention. Plus, having watched Bailey all season, it's not like he never displayed skill before, but look at the ugly dudes he was hanging out with. He'd set them up and they wouldn't finish, or they'd scare the **** out of all of the scoring opportunities or make the other players look good instead of their own team.
hmmmm. i'll give you an analogy: You (let's call you Fred Fenster) and your girlfriend decide to have a Friday night apart. You go out with some of your boys, one of whom (let's call him Verbal Kint) is in the market for a fine young lady. Lo and behold, you and your friends encounter some particularly fine ladies. Verbal finds one to be ravishing. He remains reserved around her at first, not wanting to appear drunk, because he actually digs her. You, however, chat them up with no reservation whatsoever. You know your girl is going to be home at 2 or so, and life will continue. These stranger ladies though, they're digging on your loose vibe and, as the night progresses, one asks you, yes you Fenster, to leave the premises with her. Kint, on the other hand, has somehow internalized the pressure of the situation and is coming off like a know-it-all and really just seems to be turning off the lady he's trying to win....
It's the pressure man. When you've got nothing to lose, you play LOOSE. that's why JB's points don't impress people as much as if he was playing consistently all year and then **BAM** went on a streak in the PLAYOFFS.
Listen, I think JB will be fine. I'm just not impressed by points in these games. Happy to have them, but can't wait for the day when some Islander can step up in the motherlovin' PLAYOFFS. (i miss them sooooo much...)
By this analogy, then players who don't care about team success should play better all season and in the playoffs than players who do.
I think it's safe to say that anything short of a 7 point night should see him waived by Monday morning...if he's not going to show progress, get him off this team
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