Lamoriello on Bailey Trade

Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello shared his thoughts on the Josh Bailey trade during a media availability after day two of the 2023 NHL Draft.

For context, the Isles traded Bailey and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations on Thursday morning.

Lamoriello said he spoke with Bailey before the trade, calling it a difficult conversation with the third-longest tenured player in franchise history. Bailey had played 1,057 games with the Islanders since being drafted in 2008 and is seventh all-time in franchise points with 580.

"It's certainly a difficult conversation, but he knew that this potentially could come about," Lamoriello said.

Tweet from @NYIslanders: Hear from Lou Lamoriello following the conclusion of the #NHLDraft. ������ pic.twitter.com/bNeG5WwQqa

Bailey was subsequently placed on waivers by the Blackhawks for purposes of a buyout, per Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson, which will make the veteran forward a free agent.

"That was their decision to make," Lamoriello said. "It's Josh's benefit to make any decision he wants right now for his future… He can get an opportunity of where he'd liked to go should he like to do that."

By trading Bailey for future considerations, the Islanders freed up $5M in cap space, which Lamoriello said will give them flexibility to either re-sign their pending free agents - Pierre Engvall, Scott Mayfield, Zach Parise and Semyon Varlamov - or be used during free agency, which opens on July 1.

"That was the key," Lamoriello said of the trade. "That gives us more flexibility right now to do some things we'd like to do."