Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Over the next two weeks or so, we’ll look at the restricted and unrestricted free agents on the Carolina Hurricanes roster. We’ll look at pros and cons of signing each player and give a final opinion on what the team should do. A poll will be included in each post.

Brett Bellemore‘s first full season with the Carolina Hurricanes was, overall, a very good one for him.

In the 2013 shortened season, we got a taste of what Brett Bellemore could do, but the question was if he could do it all year. The 25 year old proved that he is capable of playing in the top-four and being a reliable option as a physical, shutdown defenseman.

Brett Bellemore formed a very solid defensive pairing with Ron Hainsey this past season. They were a tough pairing to play against, and, for the most, they were able to be a good shutdown pairing. That being said, I see that pairing more as a third pairing, not top-four.

As a top-six defenseman, Brett Bellemore is a very good option. He plays well on the penalty kill, he sticks up for his teammates, and he is tough to play against. And at 25 years old, Brett Bellemore is a late bloomer, and is still getting better.

The Carolina Hurricanes should try to bring Brett Bellemore back in the fold this off-season, but it is hard to say how much he would want. After getting paid $600k last season, I wouldn’t mind giving him around $1 million for a year or two. He would definitely be worth the money as a bottom pairing defenseman.

I think the Carolina Hurricanes should re-sign Brett Bellemore. He is the type of player that every team needs.

Should the Hurricanes re-sign Brett Bellemore? Yes

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