WASHINGTON — Matt Beleskey scored again on the ice Thursday night and the chances the winger scores big off it only continue to grow.

Beleskey hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career with his tally in the Ducks’ 5-2 win over Nashville. It is a big benchmark for a grinder-turned-finisher who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Ducks are looking to extend him and Beleskey’s agent, Murray Kuntz, said there is an open line of communication. General Manager Bob Murray remains tight-lipped on any contract conversations but Kuntz provided some further clarity on where they’re at.

“Talks are continuing, and we are hopeful that we will be able to get something done,” Kurtz told the Register. “It’s an ongoing process and I honestly can tell you that both sides want to find a solution.

“As mentioned previously, Matt’s priority is to stay in Anaheim with the Ducks. We haven’t set any deadlines, and to my knowledge neither have they. We will continue to work with the Ducks management in the hopes of keeping Matt in Anaheim for a very long time.”

Beleskey is leaving negotiations to Kuntz and it isn’t known what he is seeking but clearly Kuntz wants a multiyear deal for his client, who’ll be 27 in June and is making $1.4 million in the final year of a contract signed in 2013.

The rub might be just how much the Ducks value Beleskey as a supporting secondary scorer and versatile forward from a monetary sense and the need to look beyond and set aside money for the future.

Young defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen have established themselves as critical pieces of their defense corps and are working under affordable contracts. Lindholm is still on his entry-level deal while Vatanen signed a two-year, $2.525-million deal last July.

But the Ducks will need to shell out big money for both. Lindholm is already their best all-around defenseman while Vatanen is now an offensive force and power-play fixture with 11 goals and 32 points in his second season.

There’s no current need for any negotiations but the earliest they can attempt to sign both is July 1, 2016. Lindholm and Vatanen can be restricted free agents in 2017 and the Ducks will still hold some leverage then but it may not be wise to play hardball.

That year is massive for the Ducks. Among those whom they could also be dealing with are center Ryan Kesler, goalies Frederik Andersen and John Gibson, defenseman Ben Lovejoy and forwards Kyle Palmieri, Rickard Rakell and Devante Smith-Pelly.

All but Kesler and Lovejoy are restricted but Andersen is at least one that can be eligible for arbitration. Whether all of them are with the Ducks by 2017 remains to be seen but that’s where it stands now.

The key is the Ducks must also determine how much they want to pay a winger who is either hitting his prime as a potential power forward or having quite a spike year at the most opportune time. The March 2 trade deadline could operate as a date to get something done.

If not, Beleskey could ride it out and try to maximize his value on the open market. Another option is a trade to get an asset back but the Ducks would need to find someone to replace his production but holding on to him for a playoff run might be preferable even if it may mean losing him for nothing.