Nathan Beaulieu

Lore & Background

Beaulieu began his junior career with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2008–09, when his father Jacques was the team's head coach. After his father was fired and replaced by Gerard Gallant in 2009, Beaulieu considered leaving the team but decided to remain after speaking with Gallant. During the 2010–11 season, he established himself as a top prospect for the 2011 NHL entry draft and was nominated for the Mike Bossy Trophy, losing to Sean Couturier. He was ranked fifth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau in its final rankings. Saint John won the QMJHL championship and then the 2011 Memorial Cup; Beaulieu scored the winning goal in the team's first game of the tournament and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. The win was the second Memorial Cup for the Beaulieu family, as his father Jacques had been an assistant coach with the London Knights when they won in 2005.

Beaulieu made his professional debut in the 2012–13 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL and played his first NHL game with the Canadiens on March 30, 2013, versus the New York Rangers. In his fifth season with the Canadiens in 2017–18, he posted career highs with 4 goals and 24 points in 74 games. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on June 17, 2017, for a third-round pick and signed a two-year, $4.8 million contract. During his second season with the Sabres, his role was reduced and he was regularly a healthy scratch; he requested a trade and was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline on February 25, 2019, for a sixth-round pick.

After the Jets declined to tender a qualifying offer, Beaulieu became a free agent on June 25, 2019, but re-signed with Winnipeg on a one-year, $1 million contract on July 1, 2019. On February 16, 2020, he scored his first goal as a Jet—the game-winner—in a 3–2 home victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was later traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 21, 2022, for a conditional 2022 seventh-round pick. After going unsigned over the summer, he joined the Anaheim Ducks on a professional tryout and later signed a one-year, $850,000 contract on October 1, 2022. In his lone season with the Ducks, he added 4 assists through 52 games. He subsequently signed a PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes on August 22, 2023, but ultimately signed overseas with EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League for the 2023–24 season. On June 28, 2024, he joined Barys Astana of the KHL on a one-year contract, but was released on October 18, 2024, after 8 appearances, along with Michael McLeod and Will Butcher. He later signed with Slovak club HC Nové Zámky but did not feature. He announced his retirement on July 23, 2025.

Reader's Guide

Nathan Beaulieu's NHL career spanned parts of nine seasons across four teams, with his most productive years coming with the Montreal Canadiens, where he set career highs in games played and points. His tenure with the Winnipeg Jets was relatively brief but included a notable moment: his first goal as a Jet was a game-winner against the Chicago Blackhawks on February 16, 2020. Beaulieu's path through the NHL was marked by trades and contract negotiations; after being traded from Montreal to Buffalo, he signed a two-year deal, but his reduced role led him to request a trade, which sent him to Winnipeg. The Jets initially declined to qualify him, then re-signed him at a lower salary. He later moved to Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and eventually overseas. Off the ice, Beaulieu and his father pleaded guilty to assault in August 2013 following an altercation in Strathroy, Ontario, stemming from property damages; each received conditional discharges with nine months' probation. His junior success with the Saint John Sea Dogs, including a Memorial Cup win and all-star selection, highlighted his early promise. He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. His career ended after 13 professional seasons, with his final NHL season being 2022–23 with the Ducks.

Did You Know?

• Beaulieu was drafted by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the fourth round, 68th overall, of the 2008 QMJHL Midget Draft.
• His father Jacques was head coach of the Sea Dogs when Nathan began his junior career, but was fired and replaced by Gerard Gallant in 2009.
• Beaulieu scored the winning goal in the Sea Dogs' first game of the 2011 Memorial Cup against Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.
• He was traded from the Sabres to the Jets for a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft.