Free agent Pierre-Edouard Bellemare signs new deal, delays retirement!

French left winger Pierre-Édouard Bellemare has been hoping to get an NHL contract ever since he became a free agent on July, 1st. He attended the training camp of the Colorado Avalanche this year on a professional tryout agreement but was released from his try out on Oct 3. He finally decided to go back to Europe, signing to play with HC Ajoie in the National League for the remainder of the current season.

Bellemare’s last contract was with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24. He had four goals, seven points through 40 games played with Seattle last season. He also recorded two goals, two points through seven games played with France’s national team at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. I’m sure the 39-year-old was hoping for another shot at the NHL before possibly retiring, though he now gets to keep playing while moving closer to home.

He brings exactly 700 games of NHL experience to the Swiss club, who has only two regulation wins in 17 games this season and currently sits last in the National League standings.

I bet they will appreciate the boost up front provided by Bellemare.