Greyhounds acquire Bailey from Kitchener (update)

The Soo Greyhounds have acquired a veteran forward to add to the mix.

The Greyhounds announced a trade with the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday afternoon that sees them acquire veteran forward Justin Bailey.

The deal sees David Miller as the centrepiece heading the other way along with draft picks.

The Rangers also receive second round picks in 2016 and 2018 as well as a third round pick (originally held by Plymouth) in 2015. A conditional third round pick in 2018 also heads to Kitchener in the deal.

While discussions on a possible deal had been ongoing, the deal came together in a quick fashion according to Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis.

“It came together pretty quickly (Monday) evening,” said Raftis.

“Bailey had a no-trade clause so he had some time and thought about it and when we talked today, he was really excited about it and coming (to Sault Ste. Marie).”

Bailey had 22 goals and 41 points in 35 games with the Rangers this season as a 19-year-old and was Kitchener’s leading scorer prior to the deal.

“The Greyhounds are receiving a quality player and young man,” Rangers General Manager Murray Hiebert said in a release.

“For me, what stuck out was how excited he was to come (to Sault Ste. Marie),” Raftis said. “He understands what we’re trying to do here. I think he likes the way we play and it fits his mold.”

Bailey is expected to meet the team in Sudbury on Tuesday as they prepare to open up a three-game road trip the following night against the Wolves. Whether he suits up against Sudbury hasn’t been decided but Raftis expects Bailey to play in Plymouth and Saginaw on the weekend.

In 146 career games with the Rangers, the 6-foot-3, 202-pound forward has 64 goals and 120 points.

“We were looking at getting a little bit bigger up front but with saying that, we weren’t just looking at adding a big body that couldn’t play the way we like to play,” Raftis said. “Our team plays with a lot of speed and a lot of skill and the way we got a little bit of size and still kept with that model was very important to us.”

In Miller, the Rangers get an 18-year-old forward who has posted 13 goals and 26 points in 38 games this season.

“Any time these trades happen, it’s not an easy thing to do,” Raftis said of moving Miller.

Raftis said the possibility is out there for another move by the Greyhounds.

“There’s always a lot of dialogue and it’s obviously picked up this week,” Raftis said. “We’ll see how it progresses. These things get talked about and then all of a sudden come together really quick but it’s not always that easy.”

(Photo: Newly-acquired Soo Greyhounds forward Justin Bailey. Terry Wilson/OHL Images)