Penguins A to Z: Isaac Belliveau enjoyed elevated playing time in Wheeling
With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 49 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.
This series is scheduled to be published every weekday leading into the NHL Draft on June 28.
(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)
Isaac Belliveau
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 179 pounds
2023-24 AHL statistics: Two games, zero points (zero goals, zero assists)
2023-24 ECHL statistics: 70 games, 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists)
2023-24 ECHL postseason statistics: three games, one point (one goal, zero assists)
Contract: In the first year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $875,000. Pending restricted free agent in 2026.
(Note: Belliveau is exempt from waivers for any assignments to a minor league affiliate.)
Acquired: Fifth-round draft pick (No. 155 overall), July 24, 2021
This season: Things were quite different for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization from the NHL roster on down entering Kyle Dubas’ first season as president of hockey operations.
Having had a background in the development side of the game given his experience with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, Dubas sees the value of playing time at lower levels. With regards to the Penguins, that approach manifested itself in how many of the team’s legit prospects were assigned to the Wheeling Nailers.
To open the season, five players signed to NHL contracts were stationed in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. It is believed to be the first time the Nailers had that many players with NHL deals on the roster since becoming an affiliate of the Penguins in 1998.
Belliveau was one of those who wound up with the Nailers. Instead of being a semi-regular healthy scratch with the veteran-laden Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Belliveau saw ample playing time in his first professional season and led all Nailers defensemen in scoring.
The high point of Belliveau’s season, individually, came during an 8-3 road win against the Reading Royals on Feb. 26 when he racked up two goals and an assist.
???? ONE MORE FOR BELLI ????
Isaac Belliveau makes it a 6-2 game and gets the Nailers third Powerplay goal of the night! #ForgeTheFuture pic.twitter.com/sNncH4LSXj
— x - Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) January 27, 2024
In mid-April, when the Pittsburgh Penguins dealt with injuries on the blue line and recalled the likes of Ryan Shea and Jack St. Ivany to the NHL roster, that created openings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, leading to Belliveau getting a recall to the AHL roster April 12. After two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (and the returns of Shea and St. Ivany), Belliveau was sent back to Wheeling on April 20.
This postseason, the Nailers hold a 3-1 lead against the Indy Fuel in a Central Division semifinal series. Belliveau scored the opening goal in Game 3, a 3-2 overtime home win on Monday.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) April 25, 2024
The future: Five defensemen on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s current roster are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this upcoming offseason. Beyond that, St. Ivany will be a candidate to become a full-time NHLer and Ty Smith is bound to move on after staying with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes who do not have an AHL affiliate.
Presumably, that means there will be some openings on the AHL roster going into 2024-25 season for Belliveau.
There’s plenty of refinement still in store for Belliveau, particularly with regard to his defensive game, but there’s plenty of raw base offensive skill to be intrigued by. And with his size, he isn’t all that shy with physical play.
Belliveau was given plenty of playing time in the ECHL this season and appeared to make the most of that opportunity.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.