On Friday, the San Jose Sharks announced their candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is “awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.” While their nominee, Justin Bailey, likely isn’t a favorite to win the award given the hardships some others have experienced over the course of the season, he’s certainly deserving of the nomination even though many fans around the league likely aren’t familiar with his story.
To fully examine Bailey’s story, you have to start with his draft year. He was a second-round pick during the 2013 NHL Draft, selected by his hometown team the Buffalo Sabres. As a big power forward there were a lot of hopes surrounding him. He spent a couple more seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a member of the Kitchener Rangers and eventually the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds before finally making his professional debut with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2015-16 season. He played well in the AHL, well enough to get recalled to make his NHL debut during the same season. Unfortunately, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity and failed to record a point in eight games with the Sabres.
It took until the following season, 2016-17, for Bailey to record his first NHL point. He only recorded four points in 32 games though so he spent some time in the AHL once again. This became the norm for his time with the Sabres, he was a phenomenal AHL-level player, but couldn’t seem to make it work in the NHL. During the 2018-19 season, the Sabres traded Bailey to the Philadelphia Flyers for a player in a similar situation, Taylor Leier. This is where both players went in massively different directions though. Leier got an opportunity in the AHL with the Americans, but after a season and a half with no chances at the NHL level, he left North America and has been playing in Europe ever since.
Bailey played a few games at the NHL level with the Flyers, but once again failed to find his footing. He was determined to make it work though. He signed a one-year two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 4, 2019, and played 19 games with the Canucks over the next three seasons, with most of his time spent as a member of the Utica Comets and Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. His final game at the NHL level came on Jan. 27, 2022, and at the time, it seemed like that was the last chance he’d ever get at the highest tier of professional hockey. He finished the season with the AHL Canucks before signing a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors. He played well there once again, which led to the Edmonton Oilers giving him a two-way NHL contract but he never made an appearance for them. Now, that brings us to the start of the 2023-24 season.
Bailey signed a one-year AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda as management was looking to add some high-end skill to the roster to help develop the Sharks’ prospects. He was a perfect addition to the Barracuda who needed to take a step forward given their parent club’s rebuilding status. As you’d likely expect though, things never really go to plan. He played well and the Sharks had been plagued with injuries early in the season, so he was rewarded with a two-way deal and eventually promoted to the Sharks. From there, he never looked back.
Bailey got off to a hot start, recording five points in his first eight games back in the NHL. His counting stats fell off significantly from there, but he had worked himself into head coach David Quinn’s nightly plans and he’s now played a career-high 56 games in the NHL this season, while also recording a career-high in every offensive category. At the time of writing, he has five goals, nine assists and a total of 14 points on the season.
After quite a bit of adversity, Bailey has seemingly become a serviceable NHL player. He’s played on essentially every possible line this season, but he’s spent the majority of his time on the fourth line and his game certainly fits that role. He’s not the type of player who’s going to find himself on the scoresheet every night, nor is he going to dazzle with his skill. He plays a rugged, powerful game and does carry quite a bit of speed as well. He’s the prototypical grinding fourth-liner, it’s not a pretty role but it may make it possible for him to stick around in the NHL.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have made several moves this offseason, including the high-profile sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team added forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to help shore up its depth, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes the Leafs still have a major issue to address. “There is still a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six,” Goldman wrote, noting that while Marner’s playoff production often fell short, his ability to produce 100 points during the regular season hasn’t been replaced. Captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain elite offensive weapons, and John Tavares re-signed on a more team-friendly deal, but Tavares is expected to take on a reduced role. Young forward Matthew Knies is developing nicely, but Goldman argues internal improvements alone won’t fill the void left by Marner. “With most top-tier free agents signed and just $2.9 million in cap space remaining, Toronto’s only real path to addressing this gap may come via trade,” she added. Who Might the Maple Leafs Be Targeting? The Maple Leafs have a few options still out there on the trade market. First, they might be eyeing Evan Rodrigues as a potential trade target amid the Florida Panthers’ cap crunch. With Florida $3.7 million over the cap, Rodrigues’ $3 million AAV and playoff pedigree make him an appealing, affordable top-six option to help fill the post-Marner scoring gap. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has predicted a major trade deadline move that could see the Leafs landing Anders Lee from the New York Islanders. Lee, 35, is in the final year of his eight-year, $7M AAV deal. While the Islanders insist they aren’t rebuilding, Lee could become a trade chip if they slip from playoff contention. His 29 goals and 25 assists last season should draw interest across the league. With Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade out of Columbus, the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor. The skilled winger could help fill Toronto’s top-six void. Nick Robertson may be a trade chip, though his value is uncertain. Chinakhov’s upside and affordable cap hit make him an intriguing target for GM Brad Treliving. According to Nick Kypreos, Nazem Kadri may be willing to help facilitate a move to Toronto if the Calgary Flames are open to a deal. Kadri is a center, but his production certainly would help. Finally, the Maple Leafs may target Penguins winger Rickard Rakell to fill their top-six hole. Rakell, coming off a 35-goal season, fits Toronto’s cap structure and could thrive alongside Matthews or Tavares. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will demand significant value, likely starting with Easton Cowan.
Following his breakout year in 2023, George Pickens was expected to be the WR1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the foreseeable future. He had already justified the second-round draft capital that the franchise had initially invested in him, but there were growing concerns about Pickens’ lack of maturity. Fast forward to the 2025 offseason, and even though he’s managed to produce a career total of 2,841 receiving yards throughout his first three seasons in the league, the Steelers were willing to let him go in exchange for nothing more than a 2026 third-round pick and a minuscule value swap with the Dallas Cowboys. While the team has since managed to replace Pickens’ service with that of D.K. Metcalf, fans and analysts alike are still questioning the decision. Thankfully, the self-titled host of The Rich Eisen made the most of his recent discussion with the team’s general manager, Omar Khan, by directly asking him “Why did George Pickens have to go despite developing him?” “I’ll just say, as we went through the offseason and the process, it just became evident that, for both sides, a fresh start was the best thing,” Khan explained. “It just made sense for both of us.” Suffice to say, Khan’s answer, while not very insightful, does suggest that Pickens’ relationships with various Pittsburgh personnel had become fractured beyond repair. Whether it was the Steelers or Pickens himself who was responsible for things not working out does not matter anymore, as Khan’s brief statement brings the entire saga to a somewhat definitive end. For one reason or another, it was no longer in either side’s best interest to continue working together, and that’s that. Much like the rest of his interview with Eisen, Khan and the rest of the Steelers’ organization is now moving forward. When Eisen noted that Pittsburgh’s trade involving Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey couldn’t have “happened over night,” Khan explained that it took “weeks” to finally get the deal done with the Miami Dolphins. Being sure to cover all of the high notes from the Steelers’ chaotic offseason, the seven-time Sports Emmy award nominee also inquired about T.J. Watt’s latest benchmark contract with the team. While he was unwilling to go into the “specifics of the numbers,” Khan did proclaim that, “I think it just reflects how we feel about him. It was important for me, and the organization, for T.J. to be a one-helmet Hall of Famer. It would be a great thing and hopefully there’s many, many more years to go with T.J., but it was just important. His numbers speak for themselves… As great of a player as he is, he’s an even better person.” At 6-foot-4 and 229-pounds, the aforementioned Metcalf is certainly capable of filling the Pickens-sized hole in Pittsburgh’s receiving core. Likewise, the addition of Ramsey along with their retaining of Watt will help to ensure that the defense is as stout as ever. The Steelers are going all in on the 2025 regular season with the hopes of discovering their first playoff win since January 15th of 2017 and it’s too late for them to turn back now. They’ll have to hope that they’ve made the right moves and prioritized the right signings. Otherwise they’ll risk wasting the final regular season of one of the most storied careers in all of NFL history.
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
The Phoenix Suns pursuit for Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga is reaching its final stages. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Phoenix and Sacramento Kings have made “concrete” offers to the 22-year-old. Kuminga hasn’t received much interest in restricted free agency but could still make the jump from the Warriors to a different team next season. Charania on Suns interest with Kuminga: “I’m told the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are two teams that have made concrete offers to the Warriors over the last week or so. They’re two of the most aggressive teams.” Reports have indicated that the Warriors want a first-round pick, a solid role player and no bad contracts. The Suns are lacking in first-round picks but have plenty of role players to offer in a sign-and-trade. Shooting guards Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale would have to be a part of any trade with Kuminga because of the former lottery pick’s high asking price. Allen makes nearly $17 million, while O’Neale cost around $10 million. The duo are some of the most effective shooters in the NBA and would be a perfect player to play off ball of superstar Stephen Curry. Phoenix has a surplus at shooting guard and wouldn’t lose much positional depth with the departure of the two backcourt players. In 2024-2025, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field. The turmoil between the young wing and head coach Steven Kerr boiled over after limited playing time in the playoffs. The DNPs that Kuminga racked up in the playoffs likely has hurt the value of him in free agency and in the trade market, which could help Phoenix in its pursuit.