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2021 NHL Draft: Penguins select defenseman Isaac Belliveau in fifth round

With just their second pick of the draft in Round 5, the Pens draft a defender

By Hooks Orpik
Rimouski Oceanic v Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

After waiting for pick No. 58 for the first selection of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Penguins had another long wait until pick No. 154 to get to their second spot of the draft. And with that second pick, Pittsburgh drafted defenseman Isaac Belliveau.

Belliveau is a 6’2, 185 pound left handed player. He has been playing out of Gatineau of the Quebec league, with a stint with Rimouski as well. Here’s his hockeydb profile:

Belliveau’s draft -1 year at age 17 stands out when he had 53 points in 62 games in his first season at the major junior level. That’s impressive. It’s also because he got the opportunity to play on the power play with 2020 #1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere.

Here’s a scouting report from hockey wiz scouting:

Isaac Belliveau is an offensive-minded defenseman out of the Q; he had an excellent year last season playing alongside Alexis Lafreniere and was a big part of their powerplay. Belliveau was traded to the Gatineau Olympiques 16 games into the 2020-21 season, where he has registered 2 goals and 3 points in 7 games. Belliveau is a smooth skater and an excellent puck carrier that can run the powerplay very effectively. He is great at walking the blue line to create shooting and passing lanes. Isaac is an effective defender, that displays solid positioning and gap control Despite his offensive potential, Belliveau is far from a finished product; he has much room for improvement in many parts of his game. Belliveau needs to be more physical and be stronger on the defensive side of the puck. He is already an effective offensive defenseman, but he could become one of the best powerplay quarterbacks in the league if he were to improve upon his shot velocity. As of right now, Belliveau looks like he is going to be a 2nd round pick.

Here’s another view:

Belliveau is a great puck handler and power play quarterback. He’s a skilled defenseman that’s in the Keith Yandle mold a little bit as far as style of play. He’s also already got pretty good size. The Pens will be watching to see how his defensive game rounds out as he develops from being a mid-round pick.

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