Montreal Canadiens: Former First Round Pick Released From PTO
The Montreal Canadiens draft record has been called in to question many times over the years.
Specifically, their lack of impact talent being found in the first round of NHL Drafts left them without elite level talent. Their ability to get value out of later round picks was second to none with Trevor Timmins calling the shots, but they did not get a lot out of their first picks.
Nathan Beaulieu was one of those first round picks, being selected 17th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. He profiled as a big, physical defenseman, but one that was best known for his skating and offensive abilities.
He played one more Junior season with the Saint John Sea Dogs after being drafted and then turned pro. He played five seasons in the Canadiens organization but never really became more than a bottom pairing defender with good skating and questionable decision making skills.
His last season with the Canadiens was probably his best, as he scored 28 points in 74 games, but he was traded to a division rival, the Buffalo Sabres, for just a third round pick that summer. He played two seasons with the Sabres before being dealt to the Winnipeg Jets for a sixth round pick.
Beaulieu signed a one year contract with the Anaheim Ducks last season and was a depth defenseman for them. He played 52 games and scored four points before becoming a free agent once again this summer. He signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Carolina Hurricanes hoping to earn a contract.
The 30 year old, who had to know he was trying out for perhaps the deepest blue line in the league, and a team that does not have an AHL affilliate, was released from him PTO, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent as the regular season approaches.
As a former first round pick of the Canadiens, Beaulieu seems to be yet another player who just never lived up to expectations. Before selecting Beaulieu in the first round, the Habs had chosen Louis LeBlanc and Jarred Tinordi in previous first rounds and would select Alex Galchenyuk, Michael McCarron, and Nikita Scherbak with their next three first rounders.
None of them were able to achieve the success the Canadiens had hoped for when they were drafted. While a few of them are still hanging around as NHL depth pieces, it appears to be the end of the line for Beaulieu.
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