Flyers free-agent target: LW Matt Beleskey

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Each day from now until July 1, the day free agency begins, Tom Dougherty and Tim Riday will profile some of the NHL's top impending free agents and project their likelihood of signing with the Flyers.

Matt Beleskey, left wing
Age: 27
Height: 6-0
Weight: 204
Last team: Anaheim Ducks
2014-15 cap hit: $1.35 million

Scouting report
Beleskey is a beast around the net, along the wall and especially in the corners. If there's a loose puck, he's usually the first skater to get to it. He's at his best in physical contests. Needs to work on his defensive-zone coverage but is emerging as a solid complementary winger thanks to his improving offensive instincts.

Anaheim grabbed Beleskey in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2006 NHL draft. He joined the Ducks' organization after a successful four-year stint with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL and eventually made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season.

In 329 career games with the Ducks, Beleskey has recorded 57 goals, 55 assists and 302 penalty minutes. He scored a career-high 22 markers in 65 contests last season.

Dougherty's projection
Beleskey scares me. Not because of his play — I think he's a quality winger and I don't believe this season was a fluke. What scares me is the contract he's going to get.

As Tim points out below, the market is paper thin this summer when it comes to scoring wingers. And because of that, everything is lining up for Beleskey to land a contract he isn't worth. The Flyers desperately need wingers, but can ill afford to fill a need simply because it's a need. With no salary cap, sure I'd be all over Beleskey. But it's a different world now.

The Flyers need to stay away. He'd look good playing next to Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, but not at what he's going to get paid. Not every 20-goal scorer is a $3.-plus million player.

Riday's projection
It's going to be an interesting offseason for Beleskey. He broke out for 22 goals in the regular season and added eight more during an impressive run in the playoffs for the Ducks in 2014-15. He's going to get paid.

Scoring was down across the NHL last season, so you can bet there will be several suitors lining up for Beleskey's services. He's still young and is one of the better wingers available.

While Beleskey is an intriguing case, I think Flyers GM Ron Hextall needs to be cautious. Teams often overpay for free agents. David Clarkson, Brooks Orpik and Dave Bolland come to mind when you think of recent "big-splash" signings over the past few summers. Those three players received ridiculously inflated contracts and have severely underperformed.

Beleskey's previous career high in goals was 11 (2009-10). He's never recorded more than 32 points in a season. And though he plays the left side of the ice, an area the Flyers are looking to improve, there is quite a bit of risk involved here. How much does he really deserve for one good season in the NHL?

Some markets are projecting Beleskey could receive upwards of $3.5 million come July. If the price tag is that high, count the Flyers out.

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