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Nathan Beaulieu

Nathan Beaulieu Signs In Switzerland

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Veteran NHL defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has made the decision to head overseas to continue his professional career. According to a team announcement, he’s signed with EHC Kloten, a club in Switzerland’s National League.

The move puts Beaulieu, 30, in a European professional league for the first time in his career. The 471-game NHL veteran began this season on a PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes, but Beaulieu was not able to earn a NHL contract with the club.

Before this signing, Beaulieu had spent nine consecutive seasons as a full-time NHLer, skating in just four games outside the NHL in that span.

The 2011 first-round pick never quite lived up to the offensive potential he flashed in his QMJHL days, though he had solidified himself as a reliable depth defender on the Winnipeg Jets.

Beaulieu has averaged 16:18 time-on-ice per game over the course of his NHL career, and now at age 30 it appears the player prefers to try his luck playing overseas rather than potentially settle for an AHL contract.

In landing in Kloten, Beaulieu provides the team with an instant replacement for Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson, who this morning left Kloten to sign with the SHL’s Rögle BK. Ekeståhl Jonsson was Kloten’s highest-scoring defenseman last season, but this year has managed just three points in 16 games.

Alongside Ekeståhl Jonsson’s declined production, he has also seen his role on the team slow down, as he’s averaging just 16:42 time-on-ice per game this season, compared to 21:50 last season. With Beaulieu now in the fold, Kloten may have landed an immediate upgrade for their departed blueliner.

Though it may take him some time to settle into his new surroundings, there’s the potential for Beaulieu to play a major top-pairing role for Kloten.

As a left-shot defenseman, the former Montreal Canadiens top defensive prospect could end up paired with current Canadiens top defensive prospect David Reinbacher, who is playing this season on loan at Kloten. Reinbacher has been out with an injury since October 13th, but once he’s healthy it’s possible the two are paired together.

That role would be a strong opportunity for Beaulieu, as its likely that the eyes of many NHL scouts would be on him, something that could heighten his odds of getting a shot to return to the NHL for next season.

For Kloten, the signing is more about finding an instant replacement (and upgrade, assuming Beaulieu can hit the ground running) for their departed defenseman, a move that needed to be made in order for the club to make a push to avoid the threat of relegation.

Kloten currently sit second to last in the National League with a 6-12-1 record, meaning they will need Beaulieu to step in and make an impact sooner rather than later in order to bank away some valuable standings points and keep their spot in the top level of Swiss hockey.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Peter Holland Signs PTO With Colorado Avalanche

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Peter Baugh of The Athletic is reporting that former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Peter Holland is attempting to make a comeback with the Colorado Avalanche. Baugh reports that Holland will be trying to return to the NHL after not playing hockey anywhere last season.

Holland last played professionally in the Swedish Hockey League for Djurgardens IF. He struggled offensively, posting just six assists as he cut his season short and played in just 15 games.

Holland hasn’t dressed in an NHL game since 2017-18 when he was a member of the New York Rangers. He struggled mightily that season as he posted just a goal and three assists in 23 games while playing in a bottom-six role. He then spent time in the AHL and Sweden before eventually landing in the KHL where he played for two seasons as a member of Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.

Holland will be a long shot to make a very talented Avalanche team. He will be fighting an uphill battle after sitting out for a season and spending a half-decade outside of the NHL. But he is a talented player, while he never reached the level scouts thought he would when he was selected 15th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2009 NHL entry draft, he did put up several solid seasons as a member of the Maple Leafs.

Holland will join the likes of Nathan Beaulieu (Hurricanes), Alex Chiasson (Bruins), and Brandon Sutter (Oilers) who are all hoping to convert PTOs into NHL contracts for next season.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Nathan Beaulieu To PTO

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a professional tryout, according to team reporter Walt Ruff. Beaulieu will attend Hurricanes training camp next month with the hopes of earning an NHL contract and suiting up for a 12th straight season.

Beaulieu, 30, landed a one-year, $850K contract with the Anaheim Ducks last season after appearing at their training camp on a PTO. He was used sparingly in a depth role, leading to naturally poor results on one of the worst defensive teams of the salary cap era. Averaging 15:14 per game, the journeyman defender added just four assists in 52 games and posted a -23 rating, the worst of his career. He was also briefly assigned to the minors for the first time in eight years, albeit for four games.

He’ll need to work much harder to land a contract this time around unless he’s willing to take a two-way deal and be likely assigned to the minors – which, unfortunately, won’t be a predictable career move thanks to the Hurricanes’ lack of a dedicated AHL affiliate for next season. At best, Beaulieu would slot ninth on the team’s defense depth chart as things stand. After their acquisitions of Anthony DeAngelo and Dmitry Orlov this offseason, a pair of capable everyday NHL defenders, Jalen Chatfield and Caleb Jones, are currently slated for press box roles. There’s also Dylan Coghlan, who played just 17 games last season but is signed to a one-way contract in 2023-24 and would require waivers to be assigned to the AHL.

It’s been a while since Beaulieu has offered positive value defensively, posting a relative Corsi For in the negatives at even strength in four consecutive seasons. Couple that with the fact that he hasn’t scored a goal in three and a half years (his last one was in February 2020 as a member of the Winnipeg Jets), and it’s apparent why he’s been used solely in a depth role over the past handful of campaigns.

He would add some beef to the Hurricanes blueline at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, along with a physical edge, although Chatfield carries a similar demeanor with much better defensive results. Ruff also noted a potential reason for bringing Beaulieu in is having enough defensemen healthy for the Hurricanes’ slate of split-squad preseason games on September 29.

Anaheim Ducks Recall Nathan Beaulieu From Conditioning Stint

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Jan 16: It didn’t last quite the maximum of 14 days, as Beaulieu was recalled today by the Ducks. He played in four games with the San Diego Gulls, recording his first AHL goal in years.

Jan 5: After playing just a few days ago, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has now been curiously sent to the AHL on a conditioning loan. He’ll join the San Diego Gulls for the time being, with the loan lasting a maximum of two weeks.

Beaulieu, 30, received 15 shifts in Monday’s loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, his 22nd appearance of the season. Nothing has really gone well for the Ducks this year but Beaulieu’s play specifically has been lacking, with the defenseman rarely impacting things in a positive manner. He has a -12 rating in his 22 games, despite only averaging 13 minutes a night.

The curious part is that conditioning loans are usually only for players who have missed a good amount of time due to injury or those that have faced several healthy scratches in a row. While Beaulieu did miss yesterday’s game, against the Dallas Stars and two last week, he has been dressed relatively frequently so far.

Sending him on a conditioning loan doesn’t clear a roster spot the same way a regular loan would. For the latter, he would need to clear waivers, though it’s hard to believe there would be a ton of interest in claiming him, given his $850K salary and struggles this season.

Regardless of why the Ducks did it, Beaulieu will get the chance to play in the minor leagues for the first time in years. He hasn’t appeared in an AHL game since the 2014-15 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, while still a part of the Montreal Canadiens organization. For his career, Beaulieu has 441 NHL regular season appearances and has recorded 97 points.

Anaheim Ducks Place Nathan Beaulieu On IR

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Shortly after placing defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk on IR, the Anaheim Ducks have placed fellow blueliner Nathan Beaulieu on IR as well, according to CapFriendly and the team’s roster page. No corresponding move was announced and the team now has 22 of 23 players on its roster. Recent recalls of defensemen Drew Helleson and Austin Strand still give Anaheim a comfortable seven defensemen on their roster.

It’s unclear what’s ailing Beaulieu at this time, however the defenseman has missed Anaheim’s last three games, including tonight’s contest at the Winnipeg Jets, with an undisclosed injury. When healthy, the veteran depth defenseman has played, recording two assists in 10 games thus far for a young and struggling team.

A first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2011, Beaulieu has made a career as a solid, experienced defenseman capable of giving teams minutes in whatever role he’s asked to play. Anaheim signed him to a one-year, $850K deal back on October 1st to add an additional veteran presence to a fairly inexperienced defense core. In his absence, the Ducks will have to rely on younger options such as Helleson or Strand to make up the minutes, however that exposure for younger players, while keeping Beaulieu’s influence around could be a silver lining in the meantime.

Ducks Sign Nathan Beaulieu

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Another defenseman has turned a PTO into a full contract as the Ducks announced that they’ve inked Nathan Beaulieu to a one-year contract.  Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Beaulieu receives a one-way deal worth $850K.

The 29-year-old spent last season in a limited role with Winnipeg where he played in 24 games, recording four assists while logging just 10:46 per game, well below his career average of 16:26 per contest.  Pittsburgh acquired him at the trade deadline to give them extra depth for the playoffs once he recovered from his lower-body injury but he never suited up for the Penguins.

Beaulieu has played in 419 NHL contests spanning a 10-year career between Montreal, Buffalo, and Winnipeg, picking up 12 goals and 82 assists.  With Urho Vaakanainen being injured in yesterday’s game against San Jose, it certainly looks as if he’ll be out for a little while at least so Beaulieu will have a shot at landing a full-time spot on the roster on what is a new-look back end with John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov being added earlier this offseason.

Anaheim Ducks Sign Nathan Beaulieu To PTO

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We have another PTO signing for today. Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has signed a professional tryout agreement with the Anaheim Ducks, per CapFriendly.

Beaulieu, 29, arrives in Anaheim coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Beaulieu didn’t actually suit up in a game for Pittsburgh, but he was acquired by the team at the 2022 deadline.

Beaulieu played 24 games last season, all for the Winnipeg Jets, averaging a career-low 10:46 time-on-ice per game. Beaulieu has over 400 games of NHL experience, and has operated in a seventh-defenseman role for the past four seasons as a member of the Penguins, Jets, and Buffalo Sabres.

In Anaheim, Beaulieu will join the competition for one of the open spots on the Ducks’ blueline, a competition that is getting relatively expansive. John Klingberg, Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk, Dmitry Kulikov, and Jamie Drysdale are all locks to be in the NHL, which means Beaulieu will be competing with Josh Mahura, Urho Vaakanainen, Simon Benoit, Colton White, and Olli Juolevi for one of the final two spots on the Ducks’ blueline, should the team choose to carry seven defensemen on their roster.

Given the state of the Ducks as a rebuilding club, it’s more likely that the team would prefer to run younger defensemen with more upside in those open roles. But even as he faces that reality entering camp, Beaulieu can still earn a spot and showcase his value to the Ducks. Should Beaulieu play well in the preseason while some of the younger defenseman struggle, he could earn an NHL contract to serve as the team’s seventh defenseman, just as he has for other NHL teams these past few seasons.

East Notes: Flyers, Ruotsalainen, Beaulieu

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The Flyers are expected to interview Jim Montgomery for their vacant head coaching position next week, reports Sam Carchidi of Philly Hockey Now.  Montgomery has been an assistant in St. Louis since 2020 and with the Blues being eliminated last night, teams can now talk to him about their coaching vacancies.  Montgomery has some NHL head coaching experience under his belt having coached Dallas for parts of two seasons before being let go for unprofessional conduct which he later revealed was related to his battle with alcoholism.  John Tortorella and Barry Trotz are among those that are believed to have already interviewed for Philadelphia’s vacant position.

Elsewhere in the East:

  • Following Rochester’s elimination in the AHL, Sabres winger Arttu Ruotsalainen told reporters, including Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News, that his intention is to re-sign with Buffalo and not go to the Swiss League as has been previously suggested. Assistant GM Jason Karmanos also stated a desire to keep the 24-year-old in the fold.  Ruotsalainen, who will be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility this summer, had four points in 18 games with Buffalo this season but was quite productive in the minors, notching 51 points in 57 contests while tying for the team lead in playoff scoring.
  • After acquiring Nathan Beaulieu at the trade deadline, Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review suggests it’s likely that the defenseman will leave the Penguins without ever suiting up for them. Pittsburgh picked him for a conditional draft pick that they ultimately retained as the conditions weren’t met.  Beaulieu was added as injury insurance for the playoffs and while he was close to suiting up, he wound up being a healthy scratch in the postseason after being activated off LTIR.  The 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and after playing in just 24 games with Winnipeg this season while averaging less than 11 minutes a game, it’s unlikely the 2011 first-rounder will be able to command much more than the minimum salary.

Snapshots: Stone, Fleury, Beaulieu

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Today has been a big day for news surrounding the Vegas Golden Knights, with coach Pete DeBoer being relieved of his duties this morning. That run of news now continues thanks to GM Kelly McCrimmon’s press conference today, where he revealed that captain Mark Stone, who battled injuries all year, would “most likely” be undergoing back surgery this offseason. McCrimmon did note that they expect Stone to be ready for training camp this fall, but this is nonetheless unwelcome news for a team looking to rebound from the most disappointing season in the history of their young franchise.

Stone, who just turned 30, struggled to stay healthy this season and only managed to get into 37 games. Stone’s back injury bothered him all season, leading to his placement on long-term injured reserve in early February. Stone did eventually return from LTIR in order to help the Golden Knights in their ultimately unsuccessful playoff push, but it now seems likely that his late-season activation from LTIR was more about trying to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive than it was about Stone’s back being fully recovered. If the cap-strapped Golden Knights have any hope of returning to contention next season, getting their captain back to 100% health should be a top priority, and it seems that they have elected a back surgery as the best way for Stone to get there.

Now for some other bits of news from across the NHL:

  • The goaltending situation of the Minnesota Wild has been a major storyline surrounding the team ever since they acquired the legendary Marc-Andre Fleury at the deadline. It was a move that would end up costing the incumbent number-one goaltender, Cam Talbot, his chance to be the team’s unquestioned starter come playoff time, and  There has been much speculation devoted to whether or not the Wild could manage to return that tandem for next season. Today Fleury spoke to the media and clarified his thoughts on the matter. Fleury said, per Michael Russo of The Athletic, that a return to the Wild would be “very appealing,” but that he will test free agency to at the very least see what his options are. Fleury went 9-2 in his 11 regular-season appearances with the Wild, and although he eventually ceded the crease to Talbot by the end of the Wild’s first-round loss to the St. Louis Blues, it’s clear that he was a good fit in Minnesota. Whether or not he continues that arrangement will be a storyline to watch going forward, as his comments do indicate clear interest in a return.
  • While this will give no solace to Pittsburgh Penguins fans still reeling from the team’s season-ending overtime loss to the New York Rangers, their team failing to advance in the playoffs does have one (very small) benefit. As CapFriendly notes, because of the Penguins’ elimination, they will retain the 2022 seventh-round pick they surrendered to the Winnipeg Jets as part of their trade for defenseman Nathan Beaulieu at the deadline. Beaulieu was acquired with the intention of being a reserve defenseman for the playoffs, and although he did end up activated from LTIR during the playoffs he did not skate in any games. For the Jets, this outcome is likely their favored one as had the Rangers lost to the Penguins, the Jets would lose their chance at landing a first-rounder as part of the Andrew Copp trade.

Ryan Lindgren, Brian Dumoulin Out For Game 2

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Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers will be missing a top-four defenseman for tonight’s Game 2. Brian Dumoulin is out for the Penguins, while Ryan Lindgren is out for the Rangers.

Dumoulin nearly hit 50 shifts in Game 1’s triple-overtime win, logging 36:35 of ice time, two shots, one hit, and one blocked shot. Making a name for himself as the longtime defense partner to Kris Letang, it’s likely Mike Matheson will slot in Dumoulin’s place on the top pair. Both Mark Friedman and Nathan Beaulieu took warmups for the Penguins, and one of them is expected to draw into the lineup.

Lindgren was banged up in the last game and was called a game-time decision with a lower-body injury this morning. He serves a very similar role as Dumoulin does in Pittsburgh, serving as the more defensively-inclined partner to Adam Fox. He didn’t quite hit 30 minutes of ice time in Game 1, struggling with the injury during the game. Justin Braun is drawing into the lineup, but it’s unclear how the pairs will look.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Barclay Goodrow is also missing for the Rangers.

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