Justin Bailey Bio
Justin Bailey is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently under contract with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL). Born on July 1, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, Bailey has built a journeyman career across multiple National Hockey League (NHL) and AHL organizations since turning professional in 2015. The son of former NFL linebacker Carlton Bailey, he grew up surrounded by sports in western New York and parlayed his size and skill into a professional opportunity with his hometown team.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 214 pounds, Bailey has spent most of his career transitioning between the NHL and the AHL. He is currently with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. He has previously played for the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and the San Jose Sharks.
Early Life and Background
Justin Bailey was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in the nearby suburb of Williamsville. During his childhood, he lived in the same apartment complex as several players on the Buffalo Sabres, an early connection that helped fuel his interest in hockey. He was raised primarily by his mother, Karen Buscaglia, after his parents separated, although he stayed in contact with his father through birthdays and holidays.
His father, Carlton Bailey, was a linebacker who played five seasons with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Carlton is best remembered for scoring the touchdown that helped the Bills reach Super Bowl XXVI in 1992. Coming from a family with deep ties to professional sports, Justin was introduced to athletics at a young age and eventually gravitated toward ice hockey.
Path to Hockey
Bailey’s minor hockey career began with the Buffalo Regals of the Midwest Elite Hockey League (MEHL). A shoulder injury during the 2010–11 MEHL season limited him to 22 games, but he still managed to post 13 goals and nine assists while helping the Regals reach the state championship finals. There, the team faced the Long Island Royals, a club coached by Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, who was impressed by Bailey’s size and skill.
His strong play with the Regals and his physical tools drew the attention of NHL scouts, and he was eventually selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres on November 2, 2014, officially beginning his professional career.
Justin Bailey Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
After turning professional, Bailey spent the bulk of his first few seasons in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres’ top minor-league affiliate. He was first recalled to the NHL on February 10, 2016, and made his league debut the following day. He split the rest of the campaign between Rochester and Buffalo before establishing himself as a regular call-up option.
Bailey scored his first NHL goal on January 3, 2017, against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers. During the 2017–18 season, he was suspended one game for a high hit on Reid McNeil of the Syracuse Crunch but was recalled to the Sabres on March 14, 2018, a day before he was set to serve the suspension. He finished that stint with five NHL games before being reassigned to the AHL on March 27, 2018.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2015–2019)
Bailey began his NHL journey with the team that drafted him. The Sabres had selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft and saw him as a long-term project. He bounced between Rochester and Buffalo for parts of four seasons, showing flashes of size and speed but never quite locking down a permanent roster spot.
His first NHL goal against the Rangers in January 2017 was a milestone moment. He continued to split time between leagues through 2018, but the Sabres eventually opted to move on, trading him to the Philadelphia Flyers in January 2019.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2019–2020)
The Sabres traded Bailey to the Philadelphia Flyers on January 17, 2019, in exchange for forward Taylor Leier. He was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, where he played on a line with Mikhail Vorobyev and Colin McDonald. The Flyers used that stretch to evaluate whether he had a future in Philadelphia.
Bailey was recalled to the Flyers on February 10 amid speculation that Wayne Simmonds could be moved before the trade deadline. Even after Simmonds was dealt to the Nashville Predators, Bailey struggled to remain in the NHL lineup and split the rest of the season between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley. Between February 10 and April 11, he was shuttled between the two teams ten times, finishing with 11 games for the Flyers and 17 for the Phantoms. Philadelphia did not extend a qualifying offer, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2019–2022)
On July 4, 2019, Bailey signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He was called up by the Canucks from the Utica Comets on January 30, 2020, after an injury to Tyler Motte, and appeared in two games before the NHL paused its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following season was even more difficult. After playing just three games, Bailey suffered an injury on February 11, 2021, that required surgery and caused him to miss the remainder of the year. He was unable to secure a new NHL contract after his deal expired.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2022–2023)
Unable to land an NHL deal, Bailey signed a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, on September 8, 2022. He opened the 2022–23 season with 10 points in his first 16 games for the Condors, a strong run that earned him a one-year, two-way contract with the Oilers on January 6, 2023.
Despite the NHL deal, Bailey remained in Bakersfield for the rest of the campaign and finished with 32 points in 58 regular-season games. He was not re-signed by Edmonton and became a free agent once again.
San Jose Sharks Era (2023–2025)
After going unsigned through the summer, Bailey joined the San Jose Sharks’ 2023 training camp and was signed to a one-year AHL deal by the San Jose Barracuda on October 12, 2023. He posted six goals and 11 points in 16 games, prompting the Sharks to sign him to a one-year, two-way NHL contract on November 27, 2023. He made his Sharks debut that same day, recording a primary assist on the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Washington Capitals. He re-signed with the Sharks on June 30, 2024, on another one-year contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bailey’s game is built around his 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to drive play in straight lines. He has historically been used in a bottom-six role, where his size allows him to win board battles and create room for linemates. His straight-line speed and willingness to get to the net have made him a reliable AHL producer and a serviceable NHL call-up option, though consistency in the offensive zone has remained a point of development throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bailey’s career came on January 3, 2017, when he scored his first NHL goal against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. His return to the NHL with the Sharks in November 2023, capped by a game-winning assist against the Washington Capitals on debut, marked another memorable milestone after years spent in the minors.
Justin Bailey Career Wins
Across his professional career, Justin Bailey has recorded victories at multiple levels of professional hockey, including a number of NHL goals and a steady output of points in the AHL. While he has not won a major individual award, his journeyman path has produced milestone performances and timely contributions, most notably his first NHL goal against the Rangers and his winning assist in his Sharks debut.
Justin Bailey Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Justin Bailey is the son of Carlton Bailey, a former linebacker for the Buffalo Bills who played five NFL seasons and is best remembered for the touchdown that helped the Bills reach Super Bowl XXVI. Although his father made his name in football, Justin pursued ice hockey, a path shaped largely by his western New York upbringing. He was raised by his mother, Karen Buscaglia, after his parents separated, and he maintained a relationship with his father through birthdays and holidays.
Personal Life
Bailey’s personal life has remained largely out of the public eye. He has continued to keep his roots in the Buffalo area while playing for organizations across North America, including stops in Philadelphia, Vancouver, Bakersfield, San Jose, and Anaheim. There is no publicly verified information regarding a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a period of transition for Justin Bailey. He began the year with the San Jose Sharks organization, but on January 22, 2025, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Pavol Regenda, moving him to a new Pacific Division organization. The trade gave Bailey a fresh opportunity to compete for a bottom-six role with the Ducks, a team in the middle of a long-term rebuild focused on developing young talent.
After his contract with Anaheim expired, Bailey remained within the Ducks’ system by signing a one-year AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls on July 14, 2025. The deal keeps him aligned with Anaheim’s pipeline and provides him a chance to serve as a veteran presence in the AHL. Coming off another year of bouncing between the NHL and the minors, Bailey is expected to play a leadership role in San Diego while remaining an option for call-up duty in Anaheim.
Heading into the rest of 2025, Bailey’s outlook depends largely on his production in San Diego. Strong play with the Gulls could put him back in position for another NHL opportunity, while a slower start might reinforce his role as a depth call-up. Either way, his path with the Ducks organization offers stability and a clear developmental framework, something that has often been missing from his career to this point.
