The Boston Bruins have added a top-nine winger to their roster on the first day of NHL free agency.
The B’s have signed unrestricted free agent left winger Matt Beleskey to a 5-year, $19 million contract ($3.8 million salary cap hit) on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old veteran is coming off the best season of his career during which he set career highs in goals (22) and points (32) in 65 games for the Anaheim Ducks.
He also tallied nine points (eight goals, one assist) in 16 playoff games for Anaheim, a run that ended in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final.
Beleskey could slide into the B’s lineup at left wing on the first or third lines.
He has career totals of 112 points (57 goals, 55 assists) in 329 NHL games. He was a fourth-round pick of the Ducks in the 2006 NHL Draft.
Boston also acquired forward Jimmy Hayes from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Reilly Smith and Marc Savard on Wednesday.
Thumbnail photo via James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports Images
