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Vegas Golden Knights Report Card: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

By Andrew Steele-Davis

CALGARY, AB - MARCH 10: Vegas Golden Knights Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) points to the bench during warm ups before an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on March 10, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 10: Vegas Golden Knights Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) points to the bench during warm ups before an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on March 10, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Vegas Golden Knights faces off with Barclay Goodrow #23 of the San Jose Sharks during the second period in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Vegas Golden Knights faces off with Barclay Goodrow #23 of the San Jose Sharks during the second period in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Why The Grade

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was a beast for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018-19 and he played an exceptional 200-foot game. Solid in the offensive zone with 15 points (six goals, nine assists), outstanding on the penalty kill and magnificent in the faceoff circle, the 34-year-old finished his stint in Sin City on a high.

He may have finished 2018-19 with one less point than the 16 he put up the year before, but that was only a minor blemish on his copybook and, anyway, 15 points from a bottom-line grinder is a very respectable return. Plus, he did post a 53.6 CF% and a oZS% of 54.5, which illustrates his effectiveness in the offensive zone.

But it was Bellemare’s two-way game that was far more important to the Knights than his offensive productive, with the Frenchman a maestro on the penalty kill as backed up by the 86.0 save percentage the Knights had when shorthanded while the veteran was on the ice.

Equally impressed was Bellemare’s expertise in the faceoff circle, winning 54.7 percent of his draws in the regular season and 50.8 percent during the postseason. And, when you consider that 45.4 percent of the pivot’s shifts began in the defensive zone, that hammers home just how crucial and relied upon he was by Vegas.

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Although not one of the stars on the team, we felt it was fair to give Bellemare a B- grade based on some of the jaw-dropping stats we’ve laid out. His play on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle was exceptional, and his 147:54 minutes of PK time makes it clear that, when up against it, Bellemare was the man to throw out in the thick of the battle.

You also have to take into account Bellemare’s standing in the locker room. He is a true glue guy and is loved and respected by both his team-mates and coaching staff. He was a pillar in the locker room for the Vegas Golden Knights and his presence will be missed in 2019-20.

The Numbers:

Games: 76

Goals: 6

Assists: 9

Points: 15

Plus / Minus: +2

ATOI: 12:26

PIM: 6

PK Time: 147:54

FO%: 54.72

Blocked Shots: 51

Hits: 71

Takeaways: 37

CF%: 53.6

oZS%: 54.5

Games (Playoffs): 6

Plus / Minus (Playoffs): 0

ATOI (Playoffs): 11:44

FO% (Playoffs): 50.8

Blocked Shots (Playoffs): 6

Hits (Playoffs): 15

Takeaways (Playoffs): 4

Next Report Card: Erik Haula

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