New York Islanders Top 25 Under 25: Keiffer Bellows #10
The New York Islanders first round pick from 2016 comes in at number ten. The son of a former NHL has so much promise that we had to rank him this high.
Most of the prospects we’ve looked at in our New York Islanders Top 25 Under 25, we’ve seen players between the ages of 20 to 23 years-old. From here on in we’re looking at the truly elite prospects in the Islanders system.
Kieffer Bellows was selected 19th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2016 NHL entry draft. He’s a pure goal-scorer with an elite level shot, and he’s only 18 years-old.
Bellows is the son of former NHL and Stanley Cup champion Brian Bellows. He won a cup with the habs back in 1993. Bellows senior has 1022 points to his name over his 17 year NHL career.
He obviously taught his son a thing or two about putting the puck in the back of the net. Playing for the US development team he put up 32 points in 23 games. That’s the same program that’s developed players like Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Patrick Kane.
No Pressure Development
Unlike both Mathews and Eichel, Bellows finds himself in a no pressure situation in New York. The hopes of the franchise and thrown to him.
He can take a few years to hone his craft in the lower leagues before making the jump to the NHL and help the Islanders.
Judging by what we’ve seen already, he might only need a year or two before he’s pushing for a roster spot. He’s already got quite the highlight reel.
The most impressive things from this 18-year-old is his positional awareness. Knowing how to create space by either pulling a defenceman or exploiting gaps left by teammates.
And like I’ve already said, he’s got the wicked shot. How quickly Bellows gets the puck off his stick with a flick of his wrist is simply outstanding.
Bellows won’t be in the NHL this year. But in two years time this kid is going to be a real force. Just wait for a team compromised of Barzal, Ho-Sang, and Bellows. What a team that’s going to be.
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