Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 87 – Kieffer Bellows (with guest Jenny Berman)

Along with Lighthouse Hockey’s Jenny Berman, we remember Kieffer Bellows, whose moments of fun in with the Islanders were few and far between.

Kieffer Bellows had everything you’d want in an NHL prospect: a famous name and family lineage in hockey, high praise from prospect watchers, a tantalizing shot and a history of showing up in big moments. But as the years stretched on, from college teams to junior teams to the minors to cups of coffee with the Islanders, it seemed less and less likely that Bellows would turn into what fans hoped he would be. Despite an AHL hot streak and couple of cool goals in the big league, he was eventually lost on waivers without much of a peep. We’re not mad, just disappointed that he turned from a can’t-miss-prospect into a winger who couldn’t skate (especially since the Islanders already had a few on the roster…).

Jenny takes us through her history with Bellows, including some very insightful observations about this entire era of Islanders hockey and how she felt a connection with the player over, of all things, Pokémon. We remember his strange and really unfortunate career that continues in Europe, make the Hall of Fame case for his dad Brian, and lament how we all have those prospects we want to see work out, even as it gets more and more evident that they won’t.

Thanks again to Jenny for joining us twice this season. Due to various factors, this has been waiting a long time to come out but it’s always treat to remember this time period and she was the perfect guest to walk us through it.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

• Kieffer’s father, of course, was former All Star Brian Bellows, who was, according to some, the best.

• After a very good year with the US National Development Program, the Islanders took Bellows 19th overall in the 2016 Entry Draft. He was called by Bob McKenzie the, “best pure goal scorer in the draft outside of .”