The first day of the NHL free-agency introduced two new forwards to the Boston Bruins: one via trade and the other, Matt Beleskey, snagged off the market as an UFA. The 27-year-old is hankering for the start of the season with his new team in Boston.
In an interview with BostonBruins.com, Beleskey discredited any notion that he isn’t eager to meet his new teammates and play for another crack at the Stanley Cup with a new organization. “I could end the summer right now and start camp tomorrow,” Beleskey said from his hometown of Barrie, ON. “I’m ready to go. This is always the hardest part of the summer, when you’ve been training and you’re kind of sick of that. I just want to get out there and start playing.”
Beleskey has been dubbed as a power-forward and plays a two-way brand of hockey. Some feel he can replace Milan Lucic, while others feel Beleskey’s physciallity just doesn’t match Lucic’s brawn. In 65 games last season in Anaheim, Beleskey had 159 hits (3rd highest on team). On the contrary, Lucic played in 81 games and had 259 hits (most on team). Lucic had 100 more hits than Beleskey while also playing in 16 more games.
Defensively, Beleskey was slightly more active than Lucic last year. While in ANA last season, Beleskey blocked 25 shots, finishing 14th on the roster. Meanwhile, Lucic blocked 23 shots, 17th on the roster. Lucic, undoubtedly, is much more well-rounded defensively than Beleskey, who prides himself on playing a North-South style of hockey.
Offensively, Beleskey is improving. His offensive vision is becoming clearer. He’s scoring more, shooting more, and ultimately becomeing more active with the puck. Because of his spike in offense, the Ducks played him more on the power play. Last season, Belesky’s power play TOI was exactly 100:00 (8th on team). Contrarily, his shorthanded TOI was 17:13 (30th on team). Plainly, Beleskey’s defense does not shadow his offense.
More from Bruins News
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins bringing back familiar forward on tryout contract
- The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
- NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
- The Lasting Legacy of David Krejci
Beleskey’s possession stats render his overall game leaning slightly in favor of offense. Beleskey’s individual shooting percentage last season per 60 minutes of ice time during 5-on-5 play was a career high 14.52. His goals per 60 (5-on-5) was a career high 1.37. Beleskey’s points per 60 (5-on-5) was 2.13, also a career-high number. Even Beleskey’s individual corsi (shots + shots attempts that missed the net or were blocked) per 60 minutes reached a career-high level at 20.65. His individual fenwick per 60 (5-on-5) was 14.93, also a career-high.
The numbers suggest that Beleskey is growing into a stronger offensive winger. What can be reassuring for the Bruins and company is that the former Duck is producing more as he matures more offensively. Beleskey’s individual points percentage last season was 65.1, compared to his 69.2 in the 2013-14 season. His individual assists percentage was 23.3, down from 38.5 two years ago. The winger’s individual goals percentage was 41.9 last year, the highest since the 2009-10 season when he played in 60 games. Thus, it appears Beleskey is geared more towards shooting the puck rather than passing, a paradox of Lucic (37.5 individual assists %, 27.1 individual goals % last season).
Beleskey’s shot-for percentage per 60 minutes was 28.95 last season compared to his 30.67 two season ago. His shooting percentage minus the Ducks’ team shooting percentage was 3.8, a career-high number. When subtracting Beleskey’s GF% from the team average, the winger posted a 13.8, also a career-high figure. Beleskey’s CF% last year was his best yet, posting a 53.6. The numbers suggest, seamlessly, that Beleskey continues to grow as a possession player in a league that is filled with them.
On special teams, Beleskey’s possession numbers reached career-highs, too. When down two-plus men last season, Beleskey’s CF% was 62.9, highest since the 2008-09 season in just two games with the Ducks. Beleskey’s CF per 60 minutes when down two men was 78.52. When trailing last season, his CF% was 60.5. Even when his team was down men and goals, Beleskey did not shy away from his possession game.
The winger’s plus-minus also reached a career-high last season in Anaheim, posting a plus-13. Lucic posted the same plus-minus last year, finishing second behind Kevan Miller (plus-20). Beleskey’s GA per 60 (5-on-5) was 2.06, highest since the 2011-12 season when he played in 70 games.
As a winger, Beleskey’s face-off numbers were similar to Lucic’s as well. Beleskey’s FOW% was 42.1 last season compared to Lucic’s 44.7. In the defensive zone, Beleskey won 30.3% of the draws. He was best in the neutral zone last season, posting a 36.78 FOW%.
Beleskey’s 15.2 shooting percentage was second best last year in ANA. Considering the Ducks attain both Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, it’s an impressive stat for the left winger. He finished fifth with ANA with 145 shots last season, with an average TOI of 14:28.
The former Duck is progressing both with his offense and defense, and will help this Bruins team on both ends of the ice. He’ll bring grit, tenacity, pace, scoring, and production to this team.
Though he has yet to play a single game in Boston, Beleskey already feels comfortable with his new organization.
“I think the most comfortable for me is something like — small town. You kind of get that feeling in Boston,” Beleskey said. “It’s a big city, but it’s not really that big, and I’m excited to get down there.”
Follow Christopher Bokum on Twitter @ChrisBokum. Stats from this report were used by puckalytics.com and NHL.com