Wayne Cashman, Stan Johnathan, Cam Neeley, Milan Lucic. These are only some of the well known power forwards in the long, rich tradition of the Big Bad Bruins. Guys who can put the puck in the net as well as knocking out a few teeth here and there.

It is what has built the Bruins since the beginning of their inception. Teams filled with guys who can strike fear into goaltenders with their playmaking abilities and to opposing enforcers with their fighting skills. With Lucic being dealt to Los Angelese during the offseason, Bruins fans began to wonder: Who was going to step up and be that power forward?

Enter Matt Beleskey.

After spending seven-plus seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, Beleskey signed a huge five-year $19.8 million contract with the B’s back on July 1. Looking at his track record, Beleskey seemed to be almost the perfect fit for the departed Milan Lucic. During his four years with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, Beleskey reorded over 100 penalty minutes in each season, all while scoring 98 goals, including 40 in his final season in 2008-2009. As a professional, Beleskey averaged just over 43 penalty minutes (including 25 fighting majors) per season coming into this year while registering 57-55-112 totals in 329 career games in the National Hockey League.

Prior to signing with the Bruins over the summer, Beleskey was coming off his best season with the Ducks, scoring 22 goals to go along with 10 assists. Beleskey also added eight goals in the playoffs as the Ducks adavanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Although he had just 39 penalty minutes that season, Beleskey has had seasons of 56, 64 and 72 penalty minutes during his tenure out west.

Despite the change of scenary, Beleskey understands that his role has not changed since he’s left Anaheim, especially when his role mirrors the exact identity that is expected of a Bruins player. “I’m still trying to play the same way every game,” Beleskey said after last night’s game, “I want to be that power forward and get in there and get in on the fore-check. That’s what I plan on doing.”

So far this season, Beleskey has certainly shown off some of the toughness he possessed with the Ducks.

Early in the first period against Minnesota this past Thursday night, Beleskey dropped the gloves for the first time as a member of the Bruins, hammering Wild forward Brett Bulmerin in a short scrap that Beleskey was the clear winner of. Saturday during the Bruins’ 2-0 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Beleskey, along with Brett Conolly, led all Bruins players with four hits. He constantly battled with Maple Leafs defensemen in front of the net, deflecting a couple shots just wide of the net.

Playing on the second line with Loui Eriksson and David Krejci certainly bears well for Beleskey. He is far and away the most physical player of the trio and skating with two very skilled forwards like Erikson and Krejci could open up some opportunities offensively. In 17 games this season, Beleskey has two goals and seven assists with a plus-2 rating and 15 penalty minutes. Though the Bruins would like to see a bit more production out of Beleskey, no one can say that he hasn’t had his opportunities. Just ask Coach Claude Julien.

“He’s getting his chances right now,” Julien said of Beleskey, “He’s been a little snake-bitten and the puck’s just not going in for him. But I like his compete level and I like his effort and his focus. He’s been physical and he’s working really hard. It’s only just a matter of time for him.”

Beleskey did register two shots on net, including a good chance on the short side that was turned away by Toronto netminder James Reimer. He did, however, receive the secondary assist on Zdeno Chara’s go-ahead goal late in the third. While pinching on the far side, Beleskey dug out the puck and shoveled it to Zach Trotman, who fed across the blue line to Chara. Chara then skated all the way into the faceoff dot and fired it by Reimer for the eventual game-winner. Beleskey may have only been creditied with an assist, but it was his strong work along the boards that led to the goal.
Can Beleskey be the next memorable power forward that the Boston Bruins have churned out in the long and storied history?

Thus far in the season, he is has shown some flashes of being a scorer and has not been afraid to get his hands dirty. “[Being that kind of player] is what I’ve been trying to do for most of my career,” Beleskey said, “It’s been kind of my strength. Get on the forecheck and create some space. Hopefully I’ve done a good job.”

For Matt Beleskey, he is certainly used to being that kind of player. In fact, it almost seems as if he’s embraced it.