The Graz99ers still have big goals this year, but are clearly already working intensively on the squad for next season. In any case, top performer Nick Bailen should be retained.
Liiga, KHL, SHL, DEL – Nick Bailen has a long and impressive resume, he is currently the Graz99ers record holder and should be retained beyond the season.
Record hunters on several fronts
With nine goals and 35 assists, defender Bailen is currently fourth in the ICEHL scorer rankings and the best defender among point collectors. Only once has a defender collected more points in a season – Matt Caito in 2018/19 (50 points). No defender in 99ers history has ever provided more assists than Bailen – Jeremy Rebek also had 35 at the end of the 2003/04 season, like Bailen currently. The record in 99ers history set by striker Greg Day (49) is also within reach. Even Eric Healey’s 72 points scorer from the same season doesn’t seem impossible.
Bailen: “I help the team and the team helps me”
The 36-year-old veteran could make 99ers history this year and remains calm about this in the “Kronen Zeitung”: “Of course these are nice statistics. Above all, they mean that we play well as a team and that we have good chemistry with each other. I help the team and the team helps me. The game system fits very well – this makes it more predictable for everyone what happens on the ice. And that automatically leads to more goals scored for the team.”
The veteran feels right at home in Graz and could also imagine being involved beyond the season. The 99ers are currently working on that, as sports director Pinter confirms: “We are very, very interested in keeping him. He has already shown signs.” As the “Krone” reports, the decisive factor is whether you get kindergarten places for Bailen’s three children and a solution is currently being sought.
Image: Dorner_pioneers.hockey
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