Former First Rounder On The Verge Of Returning To The NHL

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Graham Montgomery
November 16, 2023 (8:39 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently doing everything in their power to make the team better at the lowest cost possible. A slow start to the season combined with what appears to be multiple bad offseason acquisitions has put the team in a tough situation but they may have found one player who can contribute for cheap.

Leafs Get Former 1st Round Pick For Free

The team recently offered former first-round pick Kieffer Bellows a professional tryout with the Marlies. Bellows has since accepted the deal and put up 7 points, including 4 goals in 5 games with the team.

Bellows Pushing For NHL Contract with Toronto Maple Leafs

The 25-year-old forward has 95 games of NHL experience split between the Islanders and Flyers. He has 14 goals and 28 points in those games. When asked about his opportunity with the Marlies on a PTO, he explained his goal.

"They just wanted me to come in on a tryout and just show what I can do, and that's what I want to do. I want to show I can earn an NHL contract. That's my goal. While doing that, obviously that's a personal goal, I also want to help this team win games and put in a good run, however long it takes, however long I'm here, whatever the situation is - I want to help this team go on a winning streak to help them benefit in the longer run as well."

So far his play in the AHL indicates that he may very well be capable of earning an NHL deal from the Leafs. His stats with the Marlies are very impressive at least.

Kieffer Bellows (No. 20) has goals in 3 straight and has a point in every game since joining the Marlies on a pro tryout.

Totals: 5 GP, 4 G, 7 PTS, +4, 15 SOG

#LeafsForever

It is hard to imagine how Bellows could be worse than Ryan Reaves so perhaps he will get a chance to play for the Leafs this season. However, the same thing can probably be said about half the forwards on the Marlies so perhaps the team will go with another option.

As seen on Former 1st round pick is on the verge of an NHL comeback in Toronto