(Photo: Ultimate Hockey Checklist)
In 2015, the Boston Bruins outbid other teams to sign former Belleville Bulls captain Matt Beleskey to a 5 year 19 million dollar contract. Yesterday the Bruins put Beleskey on waivers.
Beleskey was a highly sought free agent after he scored 22 goals in 65 games for the Anaheim Ducks in 2014-15. He was a perfect fit for the style of the Bruins under then coach Claude Julien. However Julien was fired a year ago and Beleskey has struggled to fit into the system of current coach Bruce Cassidy. He has no points in 14 games and has often been a healthy scratch.
If Beleskey clears waivers he could be traded although Boston will likely have to absorb a large portion of his contract. The Bruins could also assign Beleskey to their American Hockey League affiliate in Providence (at full NHL salary). Ironically Providence plays the Belleville Senators on December 30th.
Beleskey appeared in 257 games in 4 seasons in Belleville. The robust winger scored 98 goals and 221 points with 467 penalty minutes. He led the Bulls to the OHL’s Eastern Conference championship and an appearance in the 2008 Memorial Cup in Kitchener.
