Vegas Golden Knights fans saw an Original Misfit skate on the ice for the last time. He might've played two seasons with the Golden Knights, scoring 12 goals and 19 assists in 148 games. But he's still revered in the Las Vegas community. His name? Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
The former Golden Knights forward had 64 goals and 74 assists during his 10-year career. His career-best season came a year after leaving Vegas, where he posted nine goals and 13 assists with the Colorado Avalanche. The French Olympian made a living as a fourth-line player, specifically in the takeaway department. Here, he averaged 38 takeaways per game, making him one of the peskiest forecheckers and defenders.
On top of that, he was the Captain of France's Olympic team this season. While the French struggled to win a game, let alone score goals, Bellemare provided the necessary NHL experience that France needed to get to Milan.
But Golden Knights fans will remember Bellemare for something else: being an absolute pest against his former team. Sure, he was selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, being plucked from the Philadelphia Flyers. But the French forward always played exceptionally well against his former team, whether it was with the Colorado Avalanche or the Seattle Kraken.
How Pierre -Edouard Bellemare was one of the biggest antagonists of the Vegas Golden Knights
Golden Knights fans will remember the goals that Bellemare scored against his former club. In fact, he had six goals and three assists in 15 games against the Golden Knights.
Fans can pick among the goals that he scored against Vegas. However, one particular goal while with the Avalanche stood out. It showcases his abilities in the offensive zone, which seems a bit... surprising.
He pounces on a giveaway, maneuvers past the Golden Knights' defense, and buries it top shelf for a goal. That has been the visual that Las Vegas has seen since the Original Misfit left town, burning his old club. It didn't matter if it was with the Avalanche, the Kraken, or the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not bad for someone who never topped the double-digit mark in career goals, eh?
Ironically, his last NHL season came in 2023-24 when he was with Seattle. He's one of the few NHL players who've played for the "last two" expansion teams in the NHL, spending a season with the Kraken. Now there's a little trivia nugget for your next night out!
With that, here's to you, Mr. Bellemare. Yes, you might've been a pain in the arse for Golden Knights fans whenever you played them. However, you will always be revered for your time and when you played in the Stanley Cup Final for the expansion team. Enjoy your retirement and your time with your family!