Eyes On Isles
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Islanders: Three players that could make NHL in 2020-21

By Michel Anderson

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders in action during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 17, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders in action during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 17, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second goal of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at 12:10 of the third period at the Barclays Center on February 06, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Kieffer Bellows

Season stats: 52GP, 22G, 9A, 31Pts

He’s already had a short-lived but relatively successful stint with the New York Islanders in 2019-20. The Islanders, desperate for goal scoring, called Kieffer Bellows up at the beginning of February.

In his first game, he lined up with Derick Brassard and Michael Dal Colle on the Islanders third line. It seemed that with Bellows a previously ineffective third line had been reinvigorated overnight. He’d get an assist on a Derick Brassard goal that night as the trio were constantly engaged and creating chances.

Bellows followed that up the next night out with his first and second career NHL goals. The kid who was brought in to score some goals and give the Islanders some much-needed depth scoring was doing just that.

But then over the next six games, Bellows didn’t record a point. His ice-time fell because of it and he’d eventually find himself back in Bridgeport a few weeks later.

It didn’t take long for the Isles former 19th overall pick in 2016 to regain that scoring touch in the AHL. In his first game back he picked up two goals. Over the next six games, before the AHL season was suspended, Bellows had scored four more goals.

Why he’ll make the cut in 2020-21?

Even if the Islanders bring in more top-tier help in 2020-21 they’ll still need scoring depth on that third line. The Isles bottom six has been a black hole almost the entire season. That can’t be the case in 2020-21. Putting a seemingly NHL ready player in Kieffer Bellows on L3 makes sense.

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