New York Islanders Select Kieffer Bellows #19 Overall

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With the nineteenth pick in the 2016 NHL Draft the New York Islanders have selected forward Kieffer Bellows from the U.S. Under-18 National Team

About Kieffer Bellows

The son of former NHLer Brian Bellows, the 18-year-old scored 50 goals in 62 games this season. Bellows was the eighth American selected in the first round and the first by the Islanders since 2010 when they selected Brock Nelson. He is committed to Boston University for the 2016-17 season.

Bellows is a skilled power forward that can dominate games. Possesses high end puckhandling ability as well as a crisp, accurate release on his shot. He’s a proficient forechecker and loves to win puck battles, which stands out as a consistent part of his game. Bellows is a strong skater that can bull through the opposition or go around them. Drives the net hard and is a decisive finisher. All-in-all, a competitor that punishes the opposition physically, as well as on the scoreboard.

What Drafting Bellows Means to the Islanders

General manager Garth Snow has done a great job of replenishing the prospect pool, but not getting much help for John Tavares. Bellows is the fifth-straight forward taken by the team in the first round. Michael Dal Colle and Joshua Ho-Sang in 2014, Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier in 2015. This allows Snow to potentially move one of his prospects in trade for a top-line winger to play alongside Tavares.

The development time he will get playing NCAA hockey with Boston College next season will definitely help him round out his game and be ready to jump into the Isles lineup. The college environment will allow him to learn how best to use his size and skill on a bigger stage.