Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Hung Up His Skates, and Kraken Fans Need to Remember What He Brought to the Ice

Alright, Emerald City, gather 'round, because there's some big news that hit today, and it's time we talk about it. Our man, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, the forward who last suited up in Kraken teal back in 2023-24, has officially called it a career. That's 700 NHL games over 10 seasons, an absolute marathon for any player, and for Bellemare, it seals his legacy as the French-born player with the most games in league history. Yeah, you heard that right. A true trailblazer, hitting that milestone at 41 years old. It's a moment that makes you stop and appreciate the grit and dedication.

A Grinding Career, A Kraken Connection

Bellemare's journey through the NHL was a wild one, touching down in five different cities before landing in Seattle. He kicked things off with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2014-17, then moved on to be part of history with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2017-19 after they snagged him with their 12th pick in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. After that, it was the Colorado Avalanche for a couple of seasons (2019-21) and then the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2021-23. Across all those stops, he racked up 138 points, split between 64 goals and 74 assists, and a solid plus-22 rati

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

ng. That's a serious career for a guy who was always a workhorse. He was the kind of player who brought it every single shift, and we saw that firsthand here in Seattle.

Twice on the Brink of Glory

While Bellemare built an incredible career filled with hard-nosed play, that ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, just barely eluded him. He saw the big dance twice, playing in 85 postseason games where he tallied five goals and 10 assists. First, with the Golden Knights in 2018, they made an improbable run but ultimately fell to the Washington Capitals. Then, in 2022, he was part of that powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning squad that lost out to the Colorado Avalanche. To get that close, twice, speaks volumes about the quality of teams he was on and the role he played in those deep playoff pushes. He was a veteran presence who knew what it took to compete at the highest level. So, yeah, it stings a little to see a guy like Bellemare call it a career. But you gotta respect it, especially after 700 games. Now, the torch passes to the next generation of Kraken. With guys like Matty Beniers, Jared McCann, and Joey Daccord making plays on the ice, we're still looking at a squad ready to make some serious noise this season. Keep that energy up, Emerald City, we've got plenty more hockey to watch and history to make!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.