Mar 28, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing Kieffer Bellows (20) against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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Nashville Predators Reassign Kieffer Bellows, Recall Kevin Gravel to NHL Roster

Nashville Predators make roster moves, sending forward Kieffer Bellows to the AHL and bringing up defenseman Kevin Gravel for added depth.

The Nashville Predators announced roster moves on Tuesday, sending left-winger Kieffer Bellows to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and calling up defenseman Kevin Gravel. This leaves the Predators’ active roster at 22 players, with the open spot expected to be filled by winger Luke Evangelista, who is likely to return from injured reserve in the coming days.

Bellows, 26, did not see any NHL action during his recent stint with the Predators after being recalled on January 11. Once a highly-touted prospect and a former first-round pick, Bellows has struggled to adapt to the NHL level, with his pro career heavily skewed toward the AHL. Over seven years, he’s appeared in 220 AHL games compared to 95 NHL games, maintaining a respectable 0.60 points per game in the minors but dropping to just 0.29 at the NHL level.

Predators Reassign Kieffer Bellows, Recall Kevin Gravelhttps://t.co/IlQigRhOyR
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) January 28, 2025

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Despite his challenges, Bellows has been a strong performer in Milwaukee this season, leading the team with 12 goals and tallying 22 points in 31 games. However, with Evangelista nearing his return, opportunities for Bellows in Nashville were set to diminish further. Evangelista, 22, has been sidelined for seven games with a lower-body injury but has been seen practicing without restrictions, indicating a return before the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

In the meantime, Gravel, 32, rejoins the Predators as their extra defenseman, replacing Spencer Stastney, who was recently sent to Milwaukee. Gravel, a 6’4” stay-at-home defenseman, has already made three NHL appearances for Nashville this season, recording an assist and averaging 18:19 of ice time per game—his highest workload since debuting in 2015-16. Known for his defensive reliability, Gravel has also contributed offensively in the AHL, leading Milwaukee defensemen with 12 points in 35 games.

Gravel remains under contract with the Predators through 2025-26 on a two-way deal, providing Nashville with a dependable depth option as they continue to navigate their season.

Image Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Gravel

Kieffer Bellows

Nashville Predators

NHL

Anamika Shrivastava

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