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Eyes On Isles
Editorials

New York Islanders Roster Wish List Going Forward

398079 01: Children's letters to Santa Claus are seen in Manhattan's General Post Office December 3, 2001 in New York City. The New York Post Office's "Operation Santa Claus" received 280,000 letters addressed to Santa last year, many of which were from needy children and were answered by members of the public and postal workers. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
398079 01: Children's letters to Santa Claus are seen in Manhattan's General Post Office December 3, 2001 in New York City. The New York Post Office's "Operation Santa Claus" received 280,000 letters addressed to Santa last year, many of which were from needy children and were answered by members of the public and postal workers. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 24: Kieffer Bellows poses for a portrait after being selected 19th overall by the New York Islanders in round one during the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes/Getty Images)

A Sniper

Anders Lee put up 74 goals over the last two previous seasons, but you still wouldn’t call him a sniper. He’s not ripping slap shots from the faceoff circle like Alex Ovechkin, or firing bullet wrist shots from anywhere on the ice like Patrik Laine.

The Isles don’t have a guy who’s a danger from just about anywhere on the ice because of his shot. They don’t have a guy who’s just pilling up the goals like Patrik Laine or another six other players that have double-digit goal returns in the month of November.

(PS: Patrik Laine scored 18 goals in the month of November alone.)

The Islanders best goal scorer in the month of November is a tie between Anothny Beauvillier and Josh Bailey with five goals each. Neither of which are “snipers”. Bailey just added goals to his game, and we still aren’t 100 percent sure what Anthony Beauvillier is going to be as an NHL’er.

But with a little bit of patience, my wish can come true. Both Kieffer Bellows is in the Islanders system and is said to have a top-notch NHL caliber shot.

Bellows, the Islanders first round pick from 2016, is currently playing in the AHL and has eleven points in 22 games. He had a great training camp and should be with the Islanders as soon as next season.

(I like this breakdown of Bellows’ game.)

With the way Kieffer Bellows’ game is evolving at the AHL level it’s easy to see that the could be here as early as the 2019-2020 NHL season.

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