With 50 points in the regular season, Bailen set a new club record and played a significant role in Graz's first championship title in club history.
Having crowned an incredible season with the championship still brings a smile to his face today. "It was the first time I won a championship as a professional," Bailen tells LAOLA1.
He will always remember the championship title. He and his family will remain uniquely connected "to this city, this team, and the club management." But all good things eventually come to an end, Bailen says.
Why the Choice Fell on Vienna
It was already clear in February that his journey along the Mur would not continue. During the three-week Olympic break, Bailen had signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals.
The transfer coup was finally officially communicated in May. Why did the American from the US state of New York and his family choose Vienna? "It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world," Bailen says.
Austria's capital is family-friendly, with plenty to experience. He enjoys going to new places to help teams develop, Bailen explains. This opportunity presented itself in Vienna-Kagran.
Bailen: "It simply was a perfect fit for me and my family."
Almost in Vienna Sooner
The US defenseman almost ended up in Vienna at an early stage of his career. The Capitals wanted to sign him in the summer of 2013, but Bailen opted for Tappara Tampere as his first European stop.
Bailen was promptly selected to the Finnish Liiga All-Star team and, the following year, moved to the KHL to Dinamo Minsk. He played for the Belarusian flagship club until 2017, also acquired Belarusian citizenship, and played 25 international games.
Overall, the veteran spent eight years in the KHL, was selected to the All-Star team twice, and was named Defenseman of the Year in 2022. He achieved this again a year later in Germany.
Offensive Drive as a Trademark
No matter which club Bailen played for: He delivered.
"I'm not a defensive specialist," Bailen says about himself. He stands for fast, offensive, and creative ice hockey, wants to serve the team, block shots, and fulfill his defensive duties as best as possible.
"I don't want to hurt my team when I'm on the ice. Offensively, I'll just try to spend a lot of time in the offensive zone, create chances, make good passes, and hopefully score a few goals," Bailen says.
He wants to contribute to the Capitals winning many games.
Winning as the Only Goal
The Capitals have missed reaching the quarterfinals for the past three years.
Wenn das Ziel nicht lautet, zu gewinnen - warum sollte man dann überhaupt spielen?
Expectations are accordingly high. "If the goal isn't to win – why play at all then?" says the 36-year-old. Of course, you can't win all 52 regular season games.
"But if you can win 35 to 40, you're in a really good position before the playoffs."
The reigning champions are optimistic about the newly assembled squad. "New faces bring a lot of energy to the team. And the familiar faces help bring the team together. I think that's a very good combination."
Grateful for Every Additional Year
Whether the Capitals will make it back to the playoffs this year remains to be seen in the coming months. With Bailen, a big fish has certainly landed in the Viennese net.
Not least due to his recent injury history, it's not a given that the defenseman will support the "Black and Yellows" on their quarterfinal mission.
"I thought I'd play a few years as a pro – not 14," Bailen says, grateful "that at 36, I can still play this sport that I love so much."
