The Colorado Avalanche are inviting an old friend to camp for a Professional Tryout (PTO) deal. If by chance you don't follow every beat of hockey season, what this means is he will have the opportunity to make the roster. A PTO is reserved for as-yet unsigned NHL veterans attempting to earn another full contract.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is a great candidate for a PTO in my opinion. He fits the more common archetype you'll typically see in these scenarios: a player with plenty of pro experience, but who has maybe slowed down, and wants to catch on with a team for one last crack at a Stanley Cup.
I've written previously about how Colorado must be both tactical and cost-effective in all of their moves this offseason. Kicking the proverbial tires on P.E. Bellemare could prove to be very smart. The Avalanche don't have lots of cash to spend. But a modest one-year deal to potentially round out the 4th line would be tidy business.
The Avalanche have made good use of PTOs in the recent past. Jack Johnson and Joel Kiviranta both made the most of those opportunities over the last few seasons. There is no reason to think Bellemare couldn't be the next to earn his way to a full deal.
There is quite literally nothing to lose for the team or the player in this scenario either. After the preseason, in the event that Colorado decides to decline to extend an offer, any other team can swoop in and sign Bellemare.
In Pierre-Edouard Bellemare's previous Colorado stint (2019-2021), he tallied 9 goals in each of his two seasons. Since leaving the Avs, he has played in Tampa Bay and most recently Seattle. Last year, his usage and output were significantly down. He scored 7 points in 40 games.
Looking closer at the production the Avalanche got from the combined efforts of Fredrik Olofsson and Chris Wagner in their 4C spot in 2023-24, you'll see it adds up to 11 points in double the starts. I say this not to demean that contribution, but as a matter of perspective.
Chris Wagner did get a one-year contract last season, which runs trough the 2025 campaign. But it shouldn't be an impediment to the Avs offering Bellemare a similar deal if they like what they see in camp. Freddy Olofsson, on the other hand, is now playing in the Swiss NL.
I should also say, that the fourth line is largely not about point scoring in the first place. In most cases, the bottom line is relied on for checking and defensive structure. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare knows what that assignment means. He's gritty and tough and can give help on the PK unit.
Will he be a complete replacement for the recently retired Andrew Cogliano? Not exactly, but he does check a lot of those vet boxes. His more common nickname among the team is Belly, but when he wore burgundy and blue before I dubbed him Physical Education, or Phys-Ed.
He is steady on the ice and very well liked off of it. Not just among the front office, who want to give him this shot, but among his teammates most of all.
If you are as hungry for any Avalanche related news as I am, you might have seen Bellemare's wife Hannah's youtube series Cooking With NHL. The wholesome videos have featured Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and most recently a recipe from Gabe Landeskog. More of Belly's ex-Avalanche teammates, Philipp Grubauer and Ryan Graves have also been guests.
These slice-of-life details might seem minor but they speak to intangible qualities. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has made lasting friendships in his decade in the National Hockey League. Bellemare has exactly 700 games under his belt against the best competition in the world.
I'm not expecting Bellemare to play 82 games this coming season. But something in the neighborhood of 40 to 60 could be crucial to the team. It is no secret that the organization has high hopes for Cal Ritchie. Still, they aren't likely to ask the rookie to center a dedicated checking-line. Having Bellemare allows the team flexibility if they do decide to give Ritchie some runway.
Finally, I would never discount the impact of having a grizzled grinder in the locker room for motivation. At 39, Bellemare would be the oldest Avalanche player on the roster. Clubs love to rally around a guy like that, and play extra hard to help win them a Cup.
In a strange twist-of-fate the Avalanche denied Belly's bid for glory in 2022, after he left Colorado for the Lightning. I'm sure it was bitter-sweet for #41 watching his old teammates succeed at his expense. Winning together after a happy reunion would be a storyline for the ages.