Bailey relishes future after extension

Josh Bailey has spent enough time on Long Island to know he doesn’t want to continue his career anywhere else.

On Saturday, before he played his first game since signing a six-year, $30 million extension — a 2-1 loss to the Devils — Bailey expressed his relief in having locked up his future with the Islanders.

“I’m really invested here,” said Bailey, who the Islanders’ drafted ninth overall in 2008. “A decade’s a long time. I’ve got a lot of great friends here and I believe in the direction we’re going as an organization. On the family side of things, it’s a great place to live and a great place to raise your kids.”

The 28-year-old winger has played on the top line this year alongside captain John Tavares (who is facing a similar sit- uation as a pending free agent), and already has career-highs of 47 assists and 62 points. Bailey was a first-time All-Star last month, joining Tavares for the event in Tampa.

While all eyes have been on Tavares’ contract situation, Bailey quietly went about his business and was rewarded when the extension became official Friday.

Bailey said the two sides had been in talks “for a little while,” but he always believed something would get done.

Coach Doug Weight described Bailey’s rise as “meteoric” earlier this season. He entered Saturday ranked eighth in the league for assists and 17th in points, just two points behind Tavares.

“We’ve always seen Bails’ talent and extreme IQ of the game,” Weight said. “He worked, he found something, he challenged his own confidence on a consistent basis, and he’s really become a different player over the last 18 months.”

The Islanders have enjoyed the return they have received in recent deals with the Oilers — namely Jordan Eberle and draft picks that turned into Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier — and they went back to the bank, acquiring defenseman Brandon Davidson for a 2019 third-round pick.

In the midst of his fourth season in the NHL, the 26-year-old lefty has three goals and two assists in 36 games.

The Islanders were in need of blueline depth.