Islanders trade Josh Bailey to Chicago Blackhawks

Ahead of the start of the second day of the 2023 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders made their biggest move of the day by trading  Josh Bailey and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, per an announcement by the team.

#Isles Transaction: The New York Islanders have traded Josh Bailey and a second-round selection in 2026 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 29, 2023

Bailey had one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5 million. By moving his contract, the Islanders now have an estimated $10 million in cap space.

Bailey, 33, played in just 64 games for the Islanders in 2022-23 and didn’t dress for a single game during the team’s short-lived playoff run.  The veteran forward expressed his frustration in his role with the team at the end of the year.

“I think looking back on it now, it’s rather telling,” Bailey said on May 1. “Getting scratched four or five games into the year before my 1000th game to where we end up at the end of the season, I think, makes a lot more sense now[…]We don’t know what’s going to happen. I think as far as where my role is, and obviously, if I’m going to be sitting in the stands a lot, it’s not something I want to do.”