The Predators have recalled forward Kieffer Bellows and defenseman Jake Livingstone from AHL Milwaukee, per an announcement from the club. Nashville’s active roster is now full ahead of their return to play against the Avalanche tomorrow.
Bellows, 27, skated in four NHL seasons with the Islanders and Flyers from 2019-20 to 2022-23. The 2016 19th overall pick was once one of the top prospects on Long Island but never elevated above a bottom-six role, posting a 14-14–28 scoring line in 95 career top-level appearances.
He’s since settled in as an AHL fixture, even spending last year on a minor-league contract in the Maple Leafs’ system. He broke out for 27-22–49 in 52 games with the AHL’s Marlies, landing some renewed NHL interest, and landed a two-way deal from Nashville last summer. He’s been recalled once this season, spending a couple of weeks on the roster in January, but was a healthy scratch in seven straight contests before being returned to Milwaukee.
Bellows’ offense has taken a step back from last season’s nearly point-per-game showing in Toronto. He ranks third on Milwaukee in scoring with 14-15–29 in 41 games but is tied with Jake Lucchini for the club lead in goals. The 6’1″ winger has also added 54 PIMs and an even rating. He’ll return to the NHL ranks for now to serve as an extra forward amid some injury concerns. Winger Zachary L’Heureux missed the final game before the break with an upper-body injury, while Luke Evangelista was absent for the last three with a lower-body issue. There’s been no update yet on their status for Saturday’s game. Mark Jankowski also remains on injured reserve with the upper-body issue that’s kept him out since Jan. 18, and he still carries a week-to-week designation.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Livingstone lands his first NHL recall in nearly two years to give Nashville eight defensemen on the roster while Adam Wilsby deals with an upper-body issue. He signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State near the end of the 2022-23 campaign but hasn’t seen NHL ice since skating in five games with the Preds to end that season. The 6’3″, 205-lb righty has 7-19–26 with a sparkling +27 rating in 108 appearances for Milwaukee over the past two years, failing to provide the offense they’d hoped for after a 35-in-39 junior year in Mankato but still serving as a good two-way option. He recorded an assist and a minus-two rating in his first NHL stint, taking three shots on goal and averaging 15:27 per game with 11 blocks and six hits.