Justin Bailey Bio
Justin Bailey is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays under contract with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL). Born on July 1, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, he has built a career that has taken him across multiple National Hockey League (NHL) organizations since his debut in 2016. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 215 pounds, Bailey is recognized for combining size with offensive skill on the ice. His journey from a Buffalo upbringing to professional hockey has been shaped by family connections to football and a steady climb through junior and minor-league programs.
Early Life and Background
Justin Bailey was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in the nearby suburb of Williamsville. He grew up in the same apartment complex as several members of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, an environment that gave him early exposure to professional hockey players and the culture surrounding the sport in his hometown. His father, Carlton Bailey, was a professional gridiron football player who played linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Carlton played five seasons with the Bills and scored the touchdown that helped the team reach Super Bowl XXVI in 1992.
Bailey’s parents separated when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his mother, Karen Buscaglia, while keeping in touch with his father during birthdays and holidays. Despite the family split, both parents remained supportive of his athletic development. The blend of a football household and a hockey-centric neighborhood gave Bailey a unique athletic foundation that he would later translate into a career on the ice.
Path to Hockey
Bailey’s minor ice hockey career began with the Buffalo Regals of the Midwest Elite Hockey League (MEHL). A shoulder injury limited him to 22 games during the 2010–11 MEHL season, but he still produced 13 goals and nine assists during that campaign. He also helped lead the Regals to the state championship finals, where they faced the Long Island Royals, coached by Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. LaFontaine was reportedly intrigued by Bailey’s combination of size and talent, an early endorsement that helped raise his profile in the scouting community.
His play in youth hockey and later junior leagues eventually caught the attention of NHL scouts, and in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Bailey was selected by his hometown Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 52nd overall. The selection reflected both his physical attributes and his scoring potential, and it set the stage for his transition into the professional ranks. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres on November 2, 2014, officially beginning his path to professional hockey.
Justin Bailey Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
After turning professional in 2015, Bailey spent time developing with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, the Sabres’ top minor-league affiliate. He was recalled to the Sabres on February 10, 2016, and made his NHL debut on February 11, 2016. Although he was reassigned to Rochester a week later, he was recalled again shortly afterward following an injury to Ryan O’Reilly. His first full taste of NHL action came during the 2016–17 season, highlighted by his first NHL goal on January 3, 2017, scored against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.
During the 2017–18 season, Bailey was suspended one game for a high hit on Reid McNeil during an AHL game against the Syracuse Crunch in March. However, he was called up to the NHL on March 14, 2018, a day before he was set to serve the suspension. After playing in five NHL games, he was reassigned to the AHL on March 27, 2018, where he eventually served his suspension, completing a developmental season that solidified his standing within the organization.
Buffalo Sabres (2015–2019)
Bailey’s time with the Buffalo Sabres began in earnest when he signed his entry-level deal in 2014 and made his debut in February 2016. Playing for his hometown team carried personal significance, and he used the opportunity to establish himself as a bottom-six forward with scoring touch. His first NHL goal against Lundqvist and the Rangers in January 2017 marked the most memorable early moment of his Sabres tenure.
Through three seasons of shuttling between Rochester and Buffalo, Bailey continued to develop his two-way game and physical presence. On January 17, 2019, the Sabres traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Taylor Leier, bringing his time in the Buffalo organization to a close.
Philadelphia Flyers (2019–2020)
After being acquired by the Flyers in January 2019, Bailey was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the team’s AHL affiliate, where he played on a line with Mikhail Vorobyev and Colin McDonald. He was recalled to Philadelphia on February 10 amid speculation that the team wanted to evaluate him in case Wayne Simmonds was traded before the deadline. Even after Simmonds was dealt to the Nashville Predators, Bailey struggled to hold a regular NHL spot and was moved between the NHL and AHL rosters ten times between February 10 and April 11.
He finished the 2018–19 season with the Flyers after his final recall on March 20, appearing in 11 games for Philadelphia and 17 for Lehigh Valley. The Flyers did not extend him a qualifying offer at season’s end, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Vancouver Canucks (2019–2021)
Bailey signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 4, 2019. He began the season with the Utica Comets, the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, and was called up to Vancouver on January 30, 2020, following an injury to Tyler Motte. He appeared in two NHL games before the 2019–20 season was paused. After playing just three games the following season, Bailey suffered an injury on February 11, 2021, that required surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of the year, effectively pausing his momentum with the organization.
Edmonton Oilers Organization (2022–2023)
As a free agent, Bailey signed a one-year AHL deal with the Bakersfield Condors on September 8, 2022. He recorded 10 points in his first 16 games, which led to a one-year, two-way contract with NHL affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers, on January 6, 2023. Despite the NHL deal, he remained with the Condors for the duration of his contract, finishing the 2022–23 season with 32 points in 58 regular-season games.
San Jose Sharks Organization (2023–2024)
After going unsigned through the summer, Bailey joined the San Jose Sharks’ 2023 training camp and was signed to a one-year AHL contract by the San Jose Barracuda on October 12, 2023. He posted 6 goals and 11 points in 16 games, which earned him a one-year, two-way NHL deal with the Sharks on November 27, 2023. He was immediately recalled and made his Sharks debut that same day, notching a primary assist on the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Washington Capitals. On June 30, 2024, he re-signed with the Sharks on another one-year contract.
Anaheim Ducks Organization (2025–Present)
Midway through his second season with the Sharks organization, Bailey was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on January 22, 2025, in exchange for Pavol Regenda. As a free agent at the conclusion of the season, he remained within the Ducks organization, signing a one-year AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls on July 14, 2025. The move kept him in the Ducks’ development system and reaffirmed his standing as a reliable AHL contributor with NHL experience.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bailey’s most notable professional moments are his first NHL goal against Henrik Lundqvist in January 2017, his NHL debut with the Sabres in February 2016, and his game-winning assist in his Sharks debut in November 2023. His selection by his hometown Sabres in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and his role on a 2024–25 trade-deadline deal to Anaheim also stand out as defining points in his career arc.
Justin Bailey Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Justin Bailey comes from a family with a strong athletic pedigree rooted in Western New York. His father, Carlton Bailey, played linebacker in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills for five seasons and was part of the team that advanced to Super Bowl XXVI following the 1991 season. His mother, Karen Buscaglia, raised him primarily after his parents separated, providing a stable home base in Williamsville. Growing up around both football and hockey influences gave Bailey a multidimensional sports upbringing.
Personal Life
Bailey has remained closely tied to his Buffalo roots throughout his professional career, even as he has moved between several organizations. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, or children have not been widely reported, and he is generally regarded as a private individual off the ice. His connection to his mother, Karen Buscaglia, and his ongoing relationship with his father, Carlton Bailey, remain central parts of his personal life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a transitional one for Justin Bailey. After beginning the season within the San Jose Sharks organization, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on January 22, 2025, in exchange for Pavol Regenda, shifting him into a new developmental pipeline. The midseason move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for ice time at both the NHL and AHL levels under a new coaching staff.
Following the conclusion of his contract, Bailey signed a one-year AHL deal with the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ top minor-league affiliate, on July 14, 2025. The signing reflected the organization’s confidence in his size, experience, and offensive upside. With the Gulls, he is expected to serve as a veteran presence and a potential call-up option for Anaheim, continuing a journeyman career that has spanned more than a decade in professional hockey.