Islanders left wing Kieffer Bellows looks on during training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on Jan. 13. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
There’s been plenty of compare-and-contrasts between sharpshooting rookies Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows. The former has solidified a spot in the Islanders’ lineup while the latter has played in small stretches but has yet to earn coach Barry Trotz’s complete trust.
Trotz has 22 seasons of experience in how best to acclimate young players into the NHL and has said several times recently Bellows "is going to be a really good pro."
But with the trade deadline looming on April 12, it’s fair to wonder exactly for whom that message is meant.