Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Announces Retirement

Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, the seasoned French hockey player, is hanging up his skates after a remarkable career. The announcement came following his Olympic appearance, which concluded with a quarterfinal defeat to Germany. The 40-year-old captain expressed his intent to retire during a postgame interview, confirming that his international career has reached its end.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s Career Overview

Bellemare’s professional journey began in the 2002-03 season, at the young age of 17, with Rouen in France’s top league, the Super 16. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier players, making his senior national team debut at the 2004 World Championship.

In 2006, he transitioned to Leksands IF in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second division. His time in Sweden was pivotal, as he led the league in goals during the 2008-09 season and later earned a spot in the top Swedish league with Skellefteå.

NHL Career Highlights

• First NHL Contract: Bellemare signed his initial two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014 at age 29.
• Expansion Draft: Selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft.
• Stanley Cup Run: Contributed to Vegas’s remarkable run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
• Later Years: Played for the Avalanche, Lightning, and Kraken during his final seasons in the NHL.

Bellemare’s time with the Flyers allowed him to showcase his defensive capabilities. Although his offensive statistics were modest, averaging around six goals and twelve points per 82 games, he earned recognition and respect for his stamina and reliability on the ice.

Recent Seasons in Europe

For the last two seasons, Bellemare competed with HC Ajoie in Switzerland, where he played a crucial role in preventing relegation during the previous season. However, his performance during the current season showed considerable decline, tallying just one goal and ten points in 32 games, alongside a negative -15 rating. With his team currently at the bottom of the league, questions linger about his future with Ajoie.

Career Statistics and Legacy

Over his illustrious career, Bellemare accrued a total of 138 points in 700 NHL games. Known for his durability, he played in 660 games from 2014 to 2023, a testament to his resilience as a player. He also had an impressive faceoff win percentage of 53.4% from 2017 onward, reinforcing his importance on the ice.

In terms of earnings, Bellemare amassed an estimated $11.3 million throughout his professional career. His contributions to teams both in the NHL and internationally have solidified his legacy as a respected figure in the sport.

El-Balad extends sincere congratulations to Pierre-Édouard Bellemare on an extraordinary hockey career and wishes him success in his retirement endeavors.