Kieffer Bellows was a good organization depth signing, but can he prove to be more or has his time as an NHL hopeful passed him by?

The Nashville Predators made some great big-time additions in free agency, but the organizational depth pieces acquired have slipped through the cracks because of it. The player who will be the focus here is Kieffer Bellows. Does he have a chance to break through in his fourth organization or is it too late at his age?

Bellows is now 26 years old and was originally drafted 19th overall in 2016 by the New York Islanders. Ever since current general manager of the Predators, Barry Trotz, became the head coach on Long Island, the team has been a very defense-first group. This didn't allow for offensively-minded players, Bellows included, to thrive in that environment. Not only that, the Islanders were a very veteran-central team and it was rare to see a young player break in and have a meaningful role.

Bellows' time with the Islanders ended in 2022-23 when he was waived after just one game. This came after a season where it looked up for him as he had scored six goals and 19 points in 45 games. The Philadelphia Flyers took a chance on Bellows and he scored just three goals in 27 games, but split time in the AHL, netting three goals and 10 points in 12 games.

The Flyers didn't keep him and Bellows ended up signing with and playing for the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate in 2023-24. It was a very good season in which he scored 27 goals and 49 points in 52 games.

Can Bellows Find Playing Time in Nashville?

With 95 NHL games under his belt and at the age of 26, Bellows is past being a prospect. Now he is just trying to find his way and earn playing time in the NHL any way he can.

The Predators have a strong AHL team in Milwaukee. At the very least, Bellows will be able to perform and make a difference offensively as he did last season in Toronto. I don't see him beating out enough players to earn his spot on the opening night roster in Nashville, but he will have room to step up and make his mark with Egor Afanasyev gone and both Philip Tomasino and Juuso Parssinen expected to be in the NHL.

Bellows has proven at every level except the NHL that he can put up points. It may take the right situation or may never happen. With the Predators this coming season, he could play good enough to earn a callup like Mark Jankowski did last season. Some players are late bloomers and others just can't transition from the AHL to the NHL. This may be the final nail in the coffin on an NHL career for Bellows if he doesn't get a chance or doesn't earn one, but it's a long season and a lot can happen.

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