Nathan Beaulieu

Nathan Anthony Richard Beaulieu (born December 5, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 17th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

Nathan Beaulieu
Beaulieu with the Montreal Canadiens in 2015
Born	December 5, 1992 Strathroy, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Winnipeg Jets Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres
NHL Draft	17th overall, 2011 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2012–present

In junior, Beaulieu helped the Saint John Sea Dogs win the 2011 Memorial Cup, and was named to the tournament's all-star team.

Playing career

Beaulieu was drafted by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the fourth round, 68th overall, of the 2008 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Midget Draft.[1] When he began his junior career with the Sea Dogs in 2008, his father Jacques was the team's head coach. His father was fired by the team and replaced with Gerard Gallant in 2009, an incident which caused Beaulieu to consider leaving the team. He decided to remain with Saint John after speaking with Gallant.[2]

During the 2010–11 QMJHL season, Beaulieu established himself as a top prospect for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, and was nominated for the Mike Bossy Trophy, awarded to the QMJHL's top professional prospect;[3] he lost the award to Sean Couturier.[4] Beaulieu was ranked fifth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau in its final rankings, an improvement from his mid-season ranking of ninth.[5] Saint John won the QMJHL championship and moved on to the 2011 Memorial Cup. Beaulieu scored the winning goal in the team's first game of the tournament against hosts Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.[2] The Sea Dogs met the Majors again in the championship game of the tournament and won 3–1 to capture the Memorial Cup. After the tournament, Beaulieu was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team.[6] The Sea Dogs win was the second Memorial Cup win for the Beaulieu family, as his father Jacques was an assistant coach with the London Knights when they won in 2005.[7]

Beaulieu made his professional debut in the 2012–13 season with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. He later played his first NHL game with the Canadiens on March 30, 2013.

In his fifth season with the Canadiens in 2017–18, Beaulieu posted career highs in his second full NHL year, appearing in 74 games with 4 goals and 24 points.

As an impending restricted free agent from the Canadiens, on June 17, 2017, Beaulieu was traded by Montreal to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the Sabres' third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[8] On July 31, 2017, he was signed to a two-year $4.8 million contract with the Sabres.[9]

During his second season with the Sabres in 2018–19, Beaulieu's role was reduced and was regularly a healthy scratch. Through the mid-point of the season, Beaulieu requested to be traded due to his limited play while in a contract year.[10] He remained with the team featuring in 30 games for 7 points before he was ultimately dealt by the Sabres at the trade deadline to the Winnipeg Jets for a six-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft on February 25, 2019.[11]

With Beaulieu approaching arbitration rights as a restricted free agent the Jets declined to tender a qualifying offer, releasing him as a free agent on June 25, 2019.[12] On July 1, 2019, Beaulieu opted to re-sign with the Jets on a cheaper one-year, $1 million contract.[13] Later that season, on February 16th, 2020, Beaulieu scored his first goal as a Winnipeg Jet- the game-winner- in a 3-2 home ice victory against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Personal life

On April 27, 2013, Beaulieu—along with his father Jacques—were involved in an altercation in their hometown of Strathroy, Ontario. The incident in question took place following a charity golf tournament at a private residence and stemmed from property damages by the Beaulieus. As a result, two people were assaulted and suffered minor injuries.[14][15] In August 2013, Beaulieu and his father pleaded guilty to assault. Each was assessed penalties of conditional discharges with nine months' probation, a joint recommendation from the Crown and the defence.[14][16]

International play

Beaulieu in January 2012
Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2012 Canada

Beaulieu participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships held in Canada and won the bronze medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008–09	Saint John Sea Dogs	QMJHL		49	2	8	10	14		4	0	0	0	2
2009–10	Saint John Sea Dogs	QMJHL		66	12	33	45	40		21	4	12	16	22
2010–11	Saint John Sea Dogs	QMJHL		65	12	33	45	52		19	4	13	17	26
2011–12	Saint John Sea Dogs	QMJHL		53	11	41	52	100		17	4	11	15	32
2012–13	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		67	7	24	31	63		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		6	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		57	7	20	27	33		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		17	0	2	2	8		7	0	2	2	2
2014–15	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		64	1	8	9	45		5	0	1	1	0
2014–15	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		8	2	2	4	9		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		64	2	17	19	55		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		74	4	24	28	44		5	0	1	1	0
2017–18	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		59	1	8	9	36		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		30	3	4	7	32		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		18	0	5	5	7		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		38	1	7	8	29		4	0	1	1	7
NHL totals				370	12	77	89	256		21	0	5	5	9

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009	Canada Atlantic	WHC17	9th		5	0	2	2	4
2012	Canada	WJC			6	0	1	1	16
Junior totals					11	0	3	3	20

Awards and honours

Award	Year
QMJHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game	2011
Memorial Cup All-Star Team	2011	[6]
President's Cup (Saint John Sea Dogs)	2011, 2012
Memorial Cup Championship	2011	[7]
Second All-Star Team	2012

References

1. "Nathan Beaulieu". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
2. Klinkenberg, Marty (2011-05-23). "Beaulieu in pursuit of rare father/son accomplishment". Telegraph Journal. Canada East. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
3. Morreale, Mike G. (2011-03-22). "QMJHL Announces finalists for Golden Puck Awards". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
4. Beacon, Bill (2011-04-07). "Islanders, Rocket goalie among QMJHL award winners". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
5. "Beaulieu, Nathan". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
6. "History – All-Star Teams". Mastercard Memorial Cup. Canadian Hockey League. 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
7. "Strathroy's Nathan Beaulieu part of Memorial Cup team". Strathroy Age Dispatch. 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
8. "Montreal Canadiens send Nathan Beaulieu to Buffalo as teams sort out rosters ahead of expansion draft". nationalpost.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
9. "Sabres, Beaulieu agree to two-year contract". Buffalo Sabres. 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
10. "Sabres defenseman Nathan Bealieu requests trade". WKBW. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
11. "Jets acquire Nathan Beaulieu from the Buffalo Sabres". Winnipeg Jets. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
12. "Jets won't qualify Beaulieu, Morrow". The Sports Network. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
13. "Jets sign Nathan Beaulieu to one-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
14. "Montreal Canadiens prospect, dad plead guilty to assault charges". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
15. "Habs prospect Nathan Beaulieu pleads guilty to assault charges". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
16. "Canadiens prospect Nathan Beaulieu pleads guilty to assault". The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 13, 2015.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database