WHEN YOU’RE a junior-aged defenseman with size and skill, those attributes will take you far. But Isaac Belliveau kicked another characteristic into high gear that could prove to be the determining factor in how successful his pro career becomes.
After the Penguins drafted him in the fifth round (154th overall) in 2021, Belliveau made it his mission to add strength to his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. “He’s been working on getting stronger and fitter,” said Tom Kostopoulos, Pittsburgh’s director of player development. “You can tell the hard work has been paying off. He’s winning more battles in the corner and net front while working on his stick details. He’s becoming harder to play against defensively while also finding different ways to create offense.”
Offense was the name of Belliveau’s game when he entered…
You're reading a preview of
The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Prospects Unlimited 2023