Former first round pick placed on waivers
The path to the NHL for a first round pick is usually mostly routine. If you're at the top of your class, you're often playing in the NHL right away. If you're not a top-5 pick, the path often involves another year with your junior team (or equivalent) or development program, followed by a year in the AHL. Sometimes, however, things don't go according to plan and you find yourself either on waivers or traded. Unfortunately for Kieffer Bellows (NYI), he was placed on waivers on Wednesday.
Bellows was drafted 19th overall in the 2016 draft by the New York Islanders. He didn't make his debut until the 2019/20 season where he skated in just 8 games. Since making his debut he has only played in more than 15 games in a season for the Islanders just once (2021/22) where he put up a respectable 19 points in 45 games.
Over his short career, he has skated in 68 games and put up 25 points. Since being drafted and before making his NHL debut, Bellows played 1 season for Boston University, and the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, along with 2 seasons for the Islanders farm team, the Bridgeport Tigers. His two most successful seasons were with Portland where he registered 41 goals and 74 points in 56 games and with Bridgeport in 2019/20 where he registered 22 goals and 31 points.
We have seen a number of players who may not have cleared waivers in previous years clear this season, so it's not a foregone conclusion that Bellows is claimed. However, I'm sure there's a team out there who might take a look at a young, top-20 pick and chance claiming him as a bit of a reclamation project.
