Kieffer Bellows Has An Interesting, Unique Story
It feels that with all the hype around Ilya Sorokin, other top prospects like Kieffer Bellows don’t get shown enough love. Bellows has played with many teams in a short time and has shown tons of NHL potential.
The Islanders drafted Kieffer Bellows, the son of former NHLer Brian Bellows, with the 19th overall pick in 2016, a pick awarded to them after a first-round victory against the Florida Panthers. Before being drafted, Bellows entered the USHL at age 16 out of Edina High School in Minnesota, the same high school Anders Lee attended before also going to the USHL.
After an impressive, almost point-per-game rookie season for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede and winning USHL rookie-of-the-year, Bellows was invited to play for the US National Under-18 team. He had another very good season, scoring an even 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 23 games, as teammates of Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, and also current Islanders prospects Oliver Wahlstrom and Logan Cockerill.
Unfortunately, Bellows’ career began to take a toll soon after being drafted, The now-18-year old Kieffer Bellows disappointed after going to college for the first year at Boston University. He only put up 14 points in 34 games, not even finishing in the top-400 for points in the league after being a promising addition. For reference, Luke Kunin, who was drafted four picks earlier, had over double the points with 32 and has gone on to already prove himself a top-six worthy forward in the NHL at the same age as Bellows.
However, Bellows and the Islanders took initiative and thought it was best for Bellows to play elsewhere. But there was another option for a place to go. Four years prior, Keiffer Bellows was drafted 142nd overall by the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL in 2013 when he was 15. At the time, the USHL was closer to home and the simpler option for Bellows, but now it seemed like the best move for his career. Plus, it is common for players to wait a year or two before going to the WHL, OHL, or QMJHL after being drafted.
Still, the decision to draft Bellows which seemed like a pretty valuable pick at the time was now looking questionable, with concern he can pan out. But Bellows proved the haters wrong, going from a questionable pick to a seemingly great pick after one monstrous season. In 56 games, Bellows totaled 41 goals and 33 assists for 74 points, with a +40, helping Portland get the fourth-best record in the league. He continued his surge into the playoffs, scoring 13 points in 12 games. Also, 10 of 13 points were assists proving he was more than a goal-scoring specialist.
In these playoffs, Bellows also scored the most memorable so far in his career. In the first round, the Winterhawks were hosting the Spokane Chiefs in game 7 of the first round. The game was tied 1-1 when Bellows ripped a one-timer for a goal with just 4:38 left in the third period for the lead. It would go on to be the series-winning goal, but Bellows also assisted an insurance goal, adding to the lead on his very next shift. The Winterhawks won the game 3-1 and advanced on.
Sadly, Bellows’ career took another toll the next year. His impressive performance earned him a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders in 2018. He started in Bridgeport, struggling to translate his potential into a professional league against grown men.
He only put up 12 goals and seven assists for 17 points across 73 games in the 2018-19 season and had a -20 and 101 penalty minutes. It seemed as if all hope regained after his WHL hiatus had been lost.
Bellows luckily improved significantly in his 2019-20 season, with 22 goals and 9 assists for 31 points in 52 games, also learning valuable discipline as he cut his penalty minutes in half, with 49. His shortened-season was due to earning an eight-game trial where he came to impress.
He assisted a Derrick Brassard goal for his first NHL point in his debut, a home game against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 4. Two days later, Bellows scored two goals, one being the game-winner, in a 5-3 win over the Kings in the Barclays Center. He then cooled down, not scoring a point in his next six and being sent back to Bridgeport.
Bellows had an up-and-down route to the NHL, but I feel he’s finally proven he’s ready for next season. Bellows turned 22 this June and is four years removed from being drafted, but don’t let how long it’s taken fool you from how much talent this kid has. With hard work in the offseason, Bellows can earn a full-time roster spot by next year, starting Dec. 2020.
My NHL compassion to Bellows would probably be Anthony Duclair. He is a second-or-third-liner who specializes in scoring on the left-wing. With Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck expected to continue to thrive as a fan-favorite fourth-line, I can easily see Bellows starting on the third-line, maybe taking over Derrick Brassard role as the third-line goal scorer if Brassard isn’t re-signed.
With Bellows in the left-wing and likely paired with veterans, he may play on the wing with Leo Komarov and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. However, Pageau is also known as a goal scorer too, so he may be bumped up to the second line, switching with Josh Bailey.
Michael Dal Colle, Tom Kuhnackl, Andrew Ladd, and Ross Johnston all may see the ice too, so who knows what Bellows’ 2020-21 season will look like. Nevertheless, expect Kieffer Bellows to play a decent amount in the NHL next year, and the sky is the limit for how good he can become.
Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others
