Former NHL defenseman Nathan Beaulieu of Strathroy, Ontario has retired at the age of 32. Beaulieu played 11 seasons in the NHL from 2012 to 2023, before playing his last two professional hockey seasons in Europe. He was with Kloten HC in the Swiss League in 2023-24, and then Nur-Sultan Bayrs of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia in 2024-25.
Who did Beaulieu play for in the NHL?
Beaulieu played his first five NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 2012 to 2017. He was then with the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2019, the Winnipeg Jets from 2019 to 2022, and the Anaheim Ducks from 2022 to 2023.
Beaulieu’s NHL Career Statistics
Beaulieu had 12 goals and 86 assists for 98 points in 471 games. He was a -14 with 340 penalty minutes, 19 power-play points, two game-winning goals, one shorthanded point, 525 shots on goal, 567 blocked shots, 458 hits, 77 takeaways, and 314 giveaways.
Beaulieu’s two career game-winning goals
Beaulieu had his first NHL career game-winning goal on November 2, 2016 in a 3-0 Canadiens shutout win over the Vancouver Canucks. Beaulieu scored from right winger Brendan Gallagher of Edmonton, Alberta and center Alex Galechenyuk of Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 12:22 of the second period to open the scoring. Beaulieu’s second NHL career-game winning goal came on February 16, 2020 in a 3-2 Jets win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Beaulieu broke a 2-2 tie at 1:36 of the third period from Patrik Laine of Tampere, Finland and Dmitry Kulikov of Lipetsk, Russia.
Memorial Cup champion and NHL First Round Pick
Beaulieu had a prestigious junior career while with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was part of the Sea Dogs team that won the 2011 Memorial Cup at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. In the Memorial Cup final, the Sea Dogs beat the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors by a score of 3-1. Beaulieu was named to the tournament All-Star team. After winning a Memorial Cup, Beaulieu was drafted in the first round, 17th overall by the Canadiens in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
Speaking of the KHL…
While Beaulieu finished his professional hockey career in Russia, six players with NHL experience are joining the KHL from another league this season. They include right winger Daniel Sprong of Amsterdam, Netherlands, who has signed with HC CSKA Moscow, center Jean-Christophe Beaudin of Longueuil, Quebec, who has signed with HC Sochi, defenseman Mac Hollowell of Niagara Falls, Ontario, who has signed with Lokomotiv, defenseman David Farrance of Rochester, New York, who signed with Sibir, goaltender Adam Huska of Zvolen, Slovakia, who signed with Admiral, and goaltender Chris Driedger of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who signed with Traktor.
