Should the Islanders Move On From Kieffer Bellows in the NHL Offseason?
Of the New York Islanders’ 14 forwards, Kieffer Bellows is the only one whose NHL contract is expiring in the offseason.
The Islanders signed Bellows to a one-year, $750,000 deal and will be a restricted free agent (RFA) come May. The 23-year-old is a talented, young player, but he is not a regular in the Islanders’ lineup. So, is it worth it for the Islanders to re-sign Bellows for the 2022-23 Season?
Bellows’ Stats
Bellows has played in 42 of the Islanders’ 79 games. He is a versatile player and has played on nearly every line, filling in wherever the team needs him. While Bellows may not be considered a goal-scorer, he is still a driven player who won’t hesitate to shoot the puck if given the chance—something some Islanders struggle with.
This season, Bellows has scored five goals and registered 12 assists. With 17 points, he has more than Casey Cizikas (15), Cal Clutterbuck (15), Matt Martin (7), and Ross Johnston (7). If Bellows were to become a full-time player for the Islanders, it is likely he would be on the third or fourth line. Bellows generates more offense than the Isles’ current fourth-line players and he also plays a very physical game. Despite only playing for about half the season, Bellows has 98 hits—the seventh most on the team.
Bellows’ Trade Value
The Islanders have had a multitude of problems this season, but their biggest issue has been their inability to score goals. With nearly all the same forwards signed for next year, the Islanders will have to trade players to open up cap space and a roster spot if they want to bring in a goal-scorer—something the team has desperately needed for years.
Bellows does not have much trade value and he doesn’t take up much cap space. But perhaps the Islanders could use him as a piece in a bigger trade to entice other teams. After all, Bellows is a young, gritty player with a lot of potential. Though he may not be an everyday player for the Islanders, there is a good chance he could be in the lineup every night on a different NHL team.
Worth Re-Signing?
Ultimately, the decision to re-sign Bellows will depend upon what the Islanders’ plan is for the 2022-23 NHL season. If management wants to trade veterans and get younger, keeping Bellows around would be a smart idea. He is a great bottom-six—perhaps even middle-six—forward who brings a physical element to the game and can score.
However, if the Islanders want to keep their core intact and add one or two players, trading Bellows’ rights might be the way to go. The Isles could try and trade some of their older players—like Martin, Josh Bailey, or Kyle Palmieri—and throw in Bellows to sweeten the deal.
Unfortunately, many Islanders forwards have underproduced this season, making it difficult to trade them. Anyone who is on the trade block likely has little trade value. But if the Islanders traded their better players, they would be left in an even worse position than they were this year. It is a tough situation to be in, but the team definitely needs to retool if they want to be cup contenders again next season.
I am a huge Islanders fan and love spreading my passion for the team here at Drive4Five. Along with writing, I also co-manage the Drive4Five TikTok and Facebook accounts.
