Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Five Best Late Round Gems in Anaheim Ducks Draft History

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 1: Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks waits for play to begin during the second period of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Honda Center on April 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 1: Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks waits for play to begin during the second period of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Honda Center on April 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 23: Matt Beleskey #39 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot against Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /

#5 Matt Beleskey

Drafted: 2006 – 4th Round 19th selection (112th overall selection)

The one bright spot of the Anaheim Ducks 2006 draft came in the form of 4th round selection Matt Beleskey. After four years with OHL team, the Belleville Bulls, Anaheim took a chance on him. As a member of the Bulls, Beleskey improved every season by leaps and bounds. He went from 23 points in his first season to 90 points in his final season.

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Beleskey made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season, but that stint was only two games long. He cracked the Ducks in the 2009-10 season and compiled a total of 329 games played in his Anaheim career. Over those 300 plus regular season games, Beleskey compiled a stat line of 112 points (57g-55a).

His coming out party, no question, was the 2014-2015 playoffs. Beleskey scored eight goals and added an assist in 16 games. The most memorable was his OT winner in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Blackhawks.

Not bad for a fourth-round selection. That career postseason also came at a time when Beleskey was finishing off his contract with the Ducks. He used it to his advantage and in the summer of 2015. Beleskey signed a 5 year, $19.8M contract with the Boston Bruins.

The east coast hasn’t brought the same level of success to Belesky. His first year in Boston mirrored his last year in Anaheim but his play and production plummeted following that. Last season he was demoted to the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence, before being traded to the New York Rangers.

Had he stayed here and remained with a center he clearly had chemistry with Ryan Kesler things could be very different for him.

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