Belpedio, 27 (5/14/96), recorded 27 points (8-19=27) and 81 penalty minutes (PIM) in 70 games with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2022-23 season. The 5-foot-11, 196-pound native of Skokie, Ill., led the Phantoms in games played and game-winning goals (4) and ranked fifth in shots (127). He was second among team defensemen in assists and scoring. The right-shot blueliner's four GWG set a career high and ranked T-1st among AHL defensemen. He also tied his career highs in games played and assists. He collected four points (1-3=4) in a four-game point streak, Feb. 1-10, to tie his career-best four-game point streak for the third time. Belpedio owns 108 points (33-75=108), seven GWG, 353 PIM and 641 shots in 304 career AHL games in six seasons with Iowa, Laval and Lehigh Valley. He has 14 points (3-11=14) and two GWG in 28 career Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Belpedio was originally selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round (80th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft and skated in his five career NHL games with the Wild. He made his NHL debut on April 7, 2018 at San Jose and tallied two assists to become the first rookie in Minnesota history to record two points in his debut. Philadelphia signed Belpedio as a free agent on July 13, 2022.
