The Colorado Avalanche could possibly draft Kieffer Bellows in the 2016 NHL Draft. Bellows is a punishing power forward with tight stick handling abilities.
The Colorado Avalanche have the #10 draft pick for the 2016 NHL Draft. They had the exact same pick last season and did very well selecting winger Mikko Rantanen. The NHL Draft takes place June 24–25, 2016 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.
Kieffer Bellows has been part of the United States National Development Team Program. He’s already committed to playing for the Boston University Terriers in the 2016-17 season.
Kieffer Bellows Statistics
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 194
Age: 18
Minor Team: US National Development Team
NHL Player Most Like: Brian Bellows (his father)
Probability of NHL Success: Great, 1-2 years
While Central Scouting has Kieffer Bellows scouted at #10 among North American skaters, the Hockey Writers War Room has compiled the list of North American and European skaters. Bellows comes in at 13th.
More avalanche: Mikhail Sergachev Draft Profile
Kieffer Bellows Scouting Report
Kieffer Bellows plays bigger than his size. His center of gravity is low, and he likes to play a punishing game. He’s known as a power forward with a scorer’s touch.
This strength comes through in his skating. He may not be the speediest player on the ice, but he’s like a bulldozer — an unstoppable force pushing things (players) out of his way. And that also makes him very difficult to move off the puck.
Kieffer is the son of retired NHLer Brian Bellows — who, incidentally, won a Stanley Cup with Patrick Roy in Montreal in 1993. Maybe that’s where Bellows learned his work ethic — and his compete level.
In fact, that compete level can be something of his downfall. He can be one aggressive player, and he’s been known to take bad penalties.
Nonetheless, Kieffer Bellows is capable of a finesse game. He’s a fine stick handler who can make solid tape-to-tape passes. He likes to shoot, too, and his shot is pretty darn accurate.
David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting said of Bellows:
"“I think he’s going to be the finisher and the sniper. He can play on the wing, and if you have someone that can get him the puck, he’s very adept at getting open for shooting lanes. He can distribute, but there are not many people that can shoot it like him and finish like him.”"
Related Story: Patrik Laine Draft Profile
Kieffer Bellows Potential Fit with the Colorado Avalanche
There’s a lot to like in Kieffer Bellows. He’s not big, but he plays like a bulldozer. His physical play make him a good match for the Colorado Avalanche. Granted, we wouldn’t want to see him taking a lot of penalties, but he could learn to control his emotions.
Though his scouting reports don’t say a lot about leadership specifically, they do talk about his work ethic. That is something that would slot in well with the Avalanche.
Bellows likes to do two more things that I really like — drive the net and shoot. The Colorado Avalanche need players like that.
Next: Logan Brown Draft Profile
I think the Avalanche are hoping for Matthew Tkachuk or Pierre-Luc Dubois but are probably focusing on Logan Brown. However, if all three of those players are gone, I think Colorado would choose Kieffer Bellows over a defenseman. And they wouldn’t be sorry — Bellows could contribute soon.