After the New York Islanders captain Anders Lee went down to injury, the team is in need of a forward to step up. While Oliver Wahlstrom has played his part on the offense, he was part of the lineup before Lee went down. With the new opening, it will create an interesting discussion to see how the Islanders fill Lee’s void. While this news will thrust the Islanders into trade talks, the Islanders may have an internal solution in Kieffer Bellows.

Bellows, 22, is stepping into a huge spot in his second year of National Hockey League (NHL) play. After playing eight games with New York last season, Bellows will look to stick as a regular for the first time in his career.

While Bellows made an immediate impact in his first two games, scoring three goals in two games, he was benched in favor of Leo Komarov for both Saturday and Monday’s games against the Flyers. As a result, there is some uncertainty as to where he belongs in the Islanders’ lineup. With this in mind, where does Kieffer Bellows belong in the Islanders’ lineup?

First Line:

The first option is where Bellows began his 2021 season: with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle. While Barzal and Eberle each aren’t necessarily the greatest goal scorers, Bellows can add some versatility on that front. The three goals he scored against New Jersey each came in three different ways. The first was on a clean shot from the slot, the second on a power move and a third on a redirect.

Although Bellows did show the tools to succeed with that line in those two games, his play did lag a bit in the next two. After not scoring in either of those games, he hit the bench for a veteran in Komarov. While it was great for Bellows’ confidence to get top minutes, he isn’t quite ready for that role yet. He will need to prove himself before getting back to that role, similar to Oliver Wahlstrom so far this season.

Second Line:

The two marquee names for the second line are Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson. Those two were phenomenal together in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Trotz has kept the two together for the better part of 2021. Bailey is the pass-first member of that line and his 14 assists are good for third on the team. Nelson, meanwhile, is a solid two-way option for that line. He may not be an elite goal scorer, but his shot is one to be feared as he sits second on the team with 12 goals.

Michael Dal Colle is the final member of the line, but he has still struggled to put the puck in the net. He has looked better so far this season but only has one goal to his credit. However, adding Bellows to the line can add a bit of speed and scoring to the wings compared to the passing of Bailey. Those three on the same line can have a complete package with a passer the right, two way player down the middle, and an offensive driver on the left.

Third Line:

Ideally, the Islanders won’t want to break up their fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck. As a result, the final option is the third line, and the two big names are easy to identify. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been a game changing pickup for the Islanders to sure up the third line center void. He plays well on both sides of the puck, and he sits inside the top five on the team for goals and points with 11 and 20 respectively.

On his right side is Oliver Wahlstrom, who Pageau has helped gel into a legitimate goal scorer for the future. His seven goals are good for sixth on the team, and his 14 points are good for eighth in the stat. On the left side is Anthony Beauvillier. Even for his struggles with four goals and four assists, he still has chemistry with Pageau and has a case to keep the line together. As a result, it’s a matter of picking between experience or youth with taking him out, but either one can succeed in the role.

The Final Verdict:

After considering all of the options, it may be best for Bellows to go the route of Wahlstrom. Pageau has done wonders for him and his confidence, and it shows in his production on the ice. If Pageau continues to help Wahlstrom’s confidence moving forward, it could be worth a shot to see if Kieffer Bellows can succeed in a similar role. With Bellows slotting with Pageau, the second line from the bubble can be reunited as well, with Beauvillier, Nelson, and Bailey taking the ice together. As a result, considering the player and the Islanders as a whole, it may be best for Kieffer Bellows to play with Pageau and get a known threat back together on the ice, while Wahlstrom or Dal Colle is promoted to the top line.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.