Tahoe Knight Monsters add wing experience with a key signing

Casey Bailey has been a well-traveled hockey player. He's played in countries such as Sweden (Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL), Germany (Iserlohn Roosters), and Slovakia (HC Slovan Bratislava). Talk about having a packed passport for your global travels!

However, the Anchorage native can add Stateline, Nevada, to his travels. The Tahoe Knight Monsters signed the right winger for the 2025-26 season, bolstering their forward group.

Last season, the 33-year-old played for Graz99ers of the ICEHL, scoring 15 goals and 12 assists in 46 games. He also has prior NHL experience with the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring a goal in 13 career games. He's spent the majority of his career playing overseas and making a living in the AHL, playing four seasons in the minor league system.

Here, he scored 51 career goals and 69 career assists, playing for clubs such as the Binghamton Senators and the Toronto Marlies. That included a banner year in 2016-17, where he scored 21 goals and 16 assists (62 games) with the Binghamton Senators.

What makes Casey Bailey special for the Tahoe Knight Monsters?

On Friday, the Knight Monsters added a seasoned veteran who knows the game of hockey. When you've played in countries like Austria and Sweden, you carry valuable experience that can translate to winning hockey for a team. That's especially true if you've played in the NHL, particularly with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

But Bailey also has a nice shot to his game. He's capable of finding open spots and capitalizing on them for excellent scoring opportunities, making him a solid winger. That scoring acumen will be vital for replacing the scoring output for Tahoe, specifically with names like Simon Pinard leaving. When you have young 24-year-old players leaving town, having a veteran presence can help in certain situations.

On top of that, you add a player who can move around in the lineup. It doesn't matter if he goes to the second line or the third. You can slot him wherever you please, creating an optimal lineup. That flexibility without complaints makes him viable for the upcoming season.

There's no doubt that the Knight Monsters are ready to play for the upcoming season. They're built for success, as is Vegas Golden Knights tradition (well... almost... can't say that for the Henderson Silver Knights). With a solid veteran in Bailey on the roster, Tahoe should continue its winning ways during the 2025-26 season.