I’m not trying to be mean. I’m not trying to be salty, as the kids say. But why is Kieffer Bellows still a part of the Flyers organization?
Bellows arrived here in October. He had just been waived by the New York Islanders. The former 2016 first round draft pick was snatched up when a plethora of injuries befell this team. James van Riemsdyk had broken his finger and the news on Cam Atkinson and Sean Couturier was not good.
So, for Chuck Fletcher to make this move was, in all honest, a no-brainer. It was a high-reward/low-risk move on his part. If he makes it, great, and he looks like a genius. If he doesn’t make it, well, no biggie. And it didn’t cost the Flyers anything to get him.
The once highly touted prospect played in parts of four seasons with the New York Islanders. In 68 games, he had 11 goals and 14 assists. If that was in one season, that’s one thing…but again, that’s spread out over four years. Maybe he just needed a change of scenery. After all, Patrick Sharp did a helluva lot better after being traded from Philly to Chicago. Sometimes it is the coach, sometimes it is who you are sharing a line with, and sometimes it is the system you are in.
So, bringing him here to Philly made sense. Maybe he could be part of this youth movement to turn this team around. Perhaps he could fit in with players like Owen Tippett or Noah Cates or, if he got good, could pair up with someone like Morgan Frost or Joel Farabee.
But with all of the injuries that mounted up, it didn’t work out. He played in 12 games and didn’t register a point. He was sent back and forth to Lehigh Valley a few times; with no other team making a waiver claim on him. He’s been back on the roster for about a month, but has been a healthy scratch in every game since Christmas until their recent game against Winnipeg. And even then, the only reason he got in was that Zack MacEwen broke his jaw. On the plus side, Bellows scored his first goal as a Flyer in that game against the Jets.
Maybe it is nerves. Maybe getting that first goal of the season will get that “monkey” off his back and he can relax and play. However, I don’t see enough of it.
I find it hard to believe that his spot on the roster is better than someone we have down on the Phantoms. What about Tyson Foerster (15 goals, 13 assists), Elliott Desnoyers (14 goals, 9 assists), or Artem Anisimov (12 goals and 8 assists)? I’m sure any of these guys would be a better fir. Anismov would bring a veteran presence and could probably hop in on the third line. The other two would allow John Tortorella to see what they can bring to the table. Or, if you are looking for a fourth line, brusier type, perhaps Jackson Cates better fits the bill.
If Bellows wants to stay with the Flyers, he should really start stepping his game up. Otherwise, he may find himself without a team. If that’s the case, this could be his last shot on an NHL team and he will have truly earned the title of “NHL Draft Bust”. If he’s not part of our future, then let’s find someone who will be.