Boston Bruins Predictions: Matt Beleskey
Matt Beleskey is one of the players the Boston Bruins snapped up in this year’s free agency frenzy. The 27-year old forward had spent the last seven years in the Anaheim Ducks organization. Beleskey seems very happy to be part of the Bruins organization, and had no problem going to social media to express his happiness.
First trip to the Frog Pond for the wife and I .. Loving Boston already! pic.twitter.com/rC0NgfMGQ3
— Matt Beleskey (@Matt_Beleskey) July 6, 2015
Beleskey came off a career-best season with the Ducks last year, scoring twenty-two goals for Anaheim. Beleskey could have made more money in free agency, but chose to come to Boston. It’s refreshing to have a player who seems actually thrilled to go halfway across a continent to pay for a new team.
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Beleskey’s overall performance will depend on what line he ends up with. It’s unlikely the Bruins will look for any more forwards before the start of the season in October. Beleskey is one of only two left wingers they have on their roster right now(the other being Brad Marchand). So it is safe to say that they’ll keep the left-shooting Beleskey in his current position. While Beleskey could make a splash on the David Krejci– David Pastrnak line, the B’s will likely put Loui Eriksson in that slot at the start of the year.
Beleskey isn’t a grinder by nature, so he probably won’t be on the fourth line either.
Beleskey would look good on Patrice Bergeron‘s line, but it doesn’t make sense to have the team’s only two natural left wingers on the same line. (If Beleskey did end up on the Bergeron line, it would be safe to inflate his numbers by 2-5 goals and 4-10 points overall for the season though.)
Taking all that into account, he will likely start out the season on the third line for Boston. If he stays on that line and is moderately productive, we can expect him to light the lamp between 10-15 times next season. He could be promoted up to the top six depending on how they play early on. Beleskey should end up with at least twenty points next season, and it’s not outside the realm of reasonable possibility for him to break the thirty point threshold.
Beleskey has some pretty decent shoes to fill at the TD Garden. It looks as if he’s ready for that kind of challenge. If he plays the same way he did with Anaheim last season, he’ll surely do well in Boston next season.