Boston Bruins: Matt Beleskey Happy to Have David Backes On Team After Years of Playing Against Him
In each of the last two seasons, the Boston Bruins have made a signing on day one of free agency with the intent of getting more physical. Last season, the Bruins signed former-Anaheim Duck left winger Matt Beleskey to a five year contract worth $19 million following his best season in the NHL in 2014-15. This year, the Bruins signed another hard-hitting player to a five year contract worth $30 million in the form of David Backes.
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
The former St. Louis Blues captain looks like he will be a perfect fit for the Bruins style of play, whether it be at center or on the wing. It’s no secret that players like Backes are hard to play against due to their grind-it-out, hard-hitting style. The Bruins have made that style of play their trademark for decades, and while opposing teams may not be fans of competing against players like Backes, skating alongside them is a completely different story.
Matt Beleskey, who has experience playing against Backes during his time in Anaheim, had this to say about one of the newest Bruins: “He’s a guy that playing against, I hated playing against him,” Beleskey told Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. “Those are usually the guys I like the most on my team.”
When talking about the upcoming season, Beleskey had this to say:
“It’s going to be good,” Beleskey said. “I’m looking forward to it. I think last year we had a little bit of growing pains going through it. In the end we didn’t finish how we wanted, but I think everyone’s going to come back hungry and ready to go and, I’m obviously looking to be a bigger part of our team this year and hopefully to get us where we want to go.”
Next: Boston Bruins Sign David Backes
Beleskey performed well in his first season with the Bruins, putting up career highs in games with 80, assists with 22, and points with 37. He also put up his second-best scoring total in his career with 15 goals in 80 games after scoring 22 in 65 games last season. Beleskey’s biggest asset is his hard-hitting style of play. The issue with that, however, is the fact that it takes a toll on his body as evidenced by his durability issues in the past, failing to hit 70 games played in three of his last five seasons.