Justin Bailey signs one-year contract with KHL's Barys Astana

He spent all of 2025-26 with the AHL's San Diego Gulls.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 221 min read

What happened: The former Buffalo Sabres forward finalized a one-year deal to join Barys Astana. The 31-year-old makes his first career move to an international club, shifting to the KHL for the 2026-27 campaign.

Why it matters: The transition to Europe marks a new phase for the 2013 second-round draft pick. He previously accumulated 141 NHL games over eight seasons with the Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks.

By the numbers: Bailey registered 25 goals and 42 points across 71 AHL games last season, adding to his career NHL totals of 10 goals, 23 points, and 157 hits.

What to watch: He looks to secure a prominent offensive role with Barys Astana ahead of training camp.

Sources

Yahoo NHL 2026-07-22T22:57:50.877143+00:00

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