TORONTO — From Penn State to the Air Canada Centre in a span of a week. Catch your breath, kid.
Not only has Casey Bailey officially joined the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing a two-year deal over the weekend, he’s likely to make his NHL debut against Florida on Thursday because of a couple injuries.
One of the carrots the Leafs used to lure the free agent was the promise of playing before the end of the season, and the organization is expecting it to be a tough transition. The 23-year-old winger played his final NCAA game last Thursday when Ohio State ended Penn State’s season and will now be facing men.
“It’s going to be faster,” said interim coach Peter Horachek. “(Opponents are) bigger, they’re stronger obviously. But there’s a lot of guys that can make that transition. We’ll both have a good feeling for where we are (once he plays).
“When he leaves here, he’ll know what he needs to work on this summer and what he needs to do to be a better pro.”
Bailey was wide-eyed after stepping off the ice from his first practice with the Leafs. A number of NHL teams expressed interest in him during a season where he scored 22 goals in 37 games and he admitted that signing a contract brought some relief.
The clincher for the Leafs came during a 30-minute phone call with Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan, the team’s president.
“I think he’s got a vision to develop his players and turn this place around,” said Bailey. “I think just the respect I have for him and his history, he really just talked to me and told me the things he likes about my game. …
“I think he’s really going to give me the chance to develop and get better here.”
Essentially, the Leafs commitment to the winger is only a season. Because the first year of his contract will be burned right away, he’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of next year.
That essentially gives Bailey 12 months to get acclimated to the pro game and demonstrate that he can take another step after showing promise in the NCAA. Historically, it’s been hit and miss with college free agents.
The Leafs, for example, have seen Tyler Bozak play nearly 400 NHL games after signing out of college and also added former backup goalie Ben Scrivens via that route. They’ve also had players like Brayden Irwin, Spencer Abbott and Christian Hanson pass through the organization without making much impact on the NHL team.
At this point it’s a shot in the dark, and one worth taking given how little risk is attached.
Bailey was part of Penn State’s first team and scored the first goal in the school’s history. He’s a self-described “late bloomer” from Anchorage, Alaska and plans to complete the final two semesters of his economics degree down the road.
Most assumed that Bailey would sign with Buffalo because of Terry Pegula’s connections to Penn State. The Sabres owner built an arena for the team and Bailey mentioned how nice it is.
“The setup Pegula gave us there is phenomenal,” he said. “What you got here is probably better. I’m not taking a step down, which I thought I might with some of the NHL teams.”
It is believed the Sabres weren’t willing to burn the first year of Bailey’s contract by playing him right away. Toronto had been hoping to ease him into his new surroundings before throwing him into a game, but Horachek said that injuries to forwards Zach Sill and Trevor Smith will likely see him dress Thursday instead.
It’s a pretty quick turnaround for a player who was mulling offers from multiple NHL teams with agent Jeff Helperl just days ago.
“It’s my dream to play in the NHL and to have this opportunity I’m so grateful and honoured,” said Bailey.
He possesses a big shot and will need to work on his skating ability to make an impact at the NHL level, according to scouts. He’s about to take his first baby steps with a Leafs team playing out the string, but the real work is only just beginning.
“I’m here to learn from these guys and see what I have to do this summer to get ready to hopefully make this team next year,” said Bailey.
At least when he gets to training camp he’ll know what to expect.