Rumor: Leafs to sign former 1st round pick to replace Ryan Reaves

While the news kind of slid under the radar a couple weeks back, the AHL's Toronto Marlies have been very satisfied with their decision to sign former New York Islanders' 1st round pick (19th overall in 2016) to a professional tryout (PTO) contract.

The 25 year old forward sign a PTO with the AHL club back on October 30th and has racked up the points ever since. He has four goals and seven points in five games and according to TSN Toronto Maple Leafs insider Mark Masters, he may have earned himself an NHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a result.

In a one on one interview with Masters, Bellows explains that nothing was promised to him from the Leafs and that he'll have to earn an NHL contract if he wants to get his career back on track.

"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," the second generational NHLer says. "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."

Bellows have bounced between the NHL and the AHL for his entire short career up until this point, playing in both the Islanders' and the Philadelphia Flyers' organizations. His best season came in 2021-22 when he put up six goals and 19 points in 45 games with the Islanders. He's scoring at over a point per game for the first time in his pro career and there's some real belief that he'll get an NHL contract as a result.

As for what he brings to the table, well it's an aspect of the game that the Leafs have been missing for awhile now.

"I think, just from my game, I'm a power forward and I just love to shoot the puck and I love to get to the dirty areas, in front of the net, the corners and I know I can score goals and make plays... I'm not afraid to get in battles, get in front of the net, play a little chippy here and there. That's just always been a part of my game growing up."

How's that sound, Leafs fans?