Islanders Kieffer Bellows violates AHL performance enhancement program

New York Islanders prospect Kieffer Bellows violated the AHL/AHLPA performance-enhancing substances program according to an AHL release.

Today, the AHL announced that New York Islanders prospect Kieffer Bellows violated the terms of the AHL and AHLPA’s performance-enhancing substances program. According to an AHL release, all discipline has been issued and satisfied.

Bellows had a productive year scoring 31 points in 52 games played and added another three points in five Calder Cup playoff games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Up and Down Seasons

What this means exactly is still unknown, although The Athletic’s Arthus Staple indicated that this could have something to do with Bellow’s absence from the Islanders bubble roster this summer in Toronto.

Bellows was selected 19th overall in the 2016 NHL draft by the Islanders after a solid 2015-16 season with 71 goals and120 points in 97 games across all competitions.

After getting drafted by the Islanders Bellows had a poor year with Boston University scoring 14 points in 34 games. He left BU after a year moving to the Portland Winterhawks for the 2016-17 season, where alongside Cody Glass, Bellows put up 41 goals and 74 points in 56 games.

Bellows went pro the following year joining the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the AHL but that run of form from the Portland Winterhawks didn’t follow him over to the pro ranks. Again, Bellows struggled with 19 points in 73 games.

Things seemed to click this year for Bellows. From November 27 to December 28, Bellows scored 13 goals in 13 games. Add another 18 points through the rest of the shortened 2019-20 AHL season.

The Islanders liked what they saw from him in the lower level and called him up to the NHL on February 4 where Bellows scored his first career NHL point, the next night he scored his first (and second) NHL goal.

Bellows has satisfied all discipline required under the AHL/AHLPA and he has no restrictions on his ability to play according to the AHL release.