Boston Bruins: Beleskey, Hayes to Replace Lucic

The tides are starting to turn for the Boston Bruins. Don Sweeney’s actions from draft day still mystify me, but on July 1st he was able to land one of the most sought-after free agents, Matt Beleskey. Even better—he got a bargain on him (well, everyone expected him to demand more); signing Beleskey to a reasonable five-year $19 million contract (about $3.8 million per season).

Beleskey is a 6-foot, 204-pound left wing who has the size the Bruins need. Beleskey is one of those players that plays bigger than his actual size. He is physical and aggressive (like Lucic), and likes to play with an edge. He also doesn’t lack speed and skill.

By sending Lucic to Los Angeles, the Bruins needed to find someone who could fill his void. It looks like they found it in Beleskey, who is the same age and born on the same day as Lucic (that’s kind of spooky), and Jimmy Hayes, who Boston acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers.

Hayes is also a big body.

He has tremendous size at 6-foot-6 and 221 pounds, but he also possesses the speed and skating ability to play an uptempo game and put opposing defensemen on their heels entering the offensive zone. —NESN

So it looks like the Sweeney is beginning to piece back together the team he so easily ripped apart on draft day.

Speaking about Beleskey, Sweeney told the Boston Globe:

“Obviously he had a breakout year, he had a very, very playoff that he followed up from a breakout year offensively, goal-production wise. His style of play was something that we had identified that we were missing in our group, and it was just a real good opportunity to purse a player that we coveted.” — Boston Globe

Here’s the catch: can Beleskey repeat or improve on the career season he put together this year? That’s the gamble.

If truth be told, the Bruins will not find a true replacement for Lucic; his numbers and track record will probably not be replicated by Hayes or Beleskey. That’s just the way it is. But they should be able to, at least, partially fill the void of Lucic’s absence.

Beleskey is 27. He most likely doesn’t have any untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. What you see is what you (probably) get. The Bruins also have to take into account that he will not be playing with linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry anymore. Those are two top-notch players. The Bruins have talent, but it is unlikely they can put Beleskey on a line with players like Perry and Getzlaf. So will his production fall? Maybe.

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Honestly, the Bruins have seen what Beleskey is capable of. And it’s not like the Bruins are made up of players who can’t hack it. If he is on a line with David Krejci and Hayes, the Bruins’ opponents could be in some trouble. That is a big and potentially very dangerous line.

Nothing is certain in sports. Beleskey could be an awful bust or a breakout star. Weirder things have happened. Plus, it does help that his ego is boosted.

“It’s given me a lot of confidence,” Beleskey said of his success last season. “Being put in situations to score and being put with great players, I feel that coming to Boston, there’s a lot of great young players, guys who have been around and guys who have won Stanley Cups. I think the experience is there and I think the style of play that I play is going to be useful in Boston. I think after being able to score some goals and get that confidence, I’m looking forward to next year. I’m looking forward to doing the same thing.” —NESN

All in all, the Bruins didn’t do a half bad job at getting players who can produce, and who have size and skill. The next item on their agenda? Signing Hayes to a deal. He is a restricted free agent and the Bruins need to make this trade worth their time by locking him up.

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