Nicolas Beaudin (born October 7, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
| Nicolas Beaudin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | October 7, 1999 Châteauguay, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| Current team Former teams | Free agent Chicago Blackhawks HC Sparta Praha Rockford IceHogs Laval Rocket | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 27th overall, 2018 Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| Playing career | 2019–present | ||
Early life
editBeaudin was born on October 7, 1999, in Châteauguay, Quebec,[1] to parents Stephane and Annie.[2] Growing up, Stephane played a crucial rule in Beaudin playing hockey and coached him throughout his minor hockey career.[3]
Playing career
editBeaudin was selected 39th overall by the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the 2015 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Draft.[4] He was awarded the Voltigeurs Offensive Player of the Year award at the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.[5] He finished the season with 12 goals and 69 points in 68 games and was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team.[6][7]
Beaudin was selected 27th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The second of Chicago's picks in the first round, Beaudin was considered one of the best power play options in the draft.[6] On November 9, Beaudin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks. He returned to Drummondville for one more season[7] before joining Chicago's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. In his first pro season, Beaudin recorded three goals and 15 points in 59 games. He was recalled by Chicago after an injury to Adam Boqvist and played his first NHL game on March 11, 2020 versus the San Jose Sharks.[8][9] During the 2021–22 season, Beaudin initially failed to make the Blackhawks out of training camp, but was instead assigned to the taxi squad during the pandemic-shortened season. After Boqvist suffered another injury, Beaudin made the transition to the main squad and saw significant playing time with the Blackhawks, often paired with Nikita Zadorov.[10][11] On February 21, 2021, Beaudin scored his first NHL goal on Joonas Korpisalo in a 6–5 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[12]
Beaudin spent the majority of the 2021–22 season in the AHL with Rockford, putting up 16 points in 66 games and appearing in only two games with Chicago.[13] Entering his fourth season within the Blackhawks organization in 2022–23, Beaudin was re-assigned to continue his tenure with the IceHogs having fallen down the depth chart.[11]
Following three games with Rockford, Beaudin was traded by the Blackhawks to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Cameron Hillis on October 26, 2022. He was immediately re-assigned to Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.[14] He played 39 games with Laval, registering two goals and 25 points. On July 13, 2023, Beaudin signed a one-year two-way contract with Montreal.[15] He attended the Canadiens' 2023 training camp but failed to make the team. Beaudin was placed on waivers and after going unclaimed, assigned to Laval to start the 2023–24 season.[16]
On January 29, 2024, Beaudin had his contract terminated following a mutual agreement with the Canadiens.[17] Shortly thereafter, Beaudin signed a one-year contract with Czech-based HC Sparta Praha on January 31.[18]
Playing style
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2021 Latvia | |
Beaudin described his playing style as emulating Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner.[19]
"He's such a smart guy with his hockey sense and his vision of the game...He often sees a play developing in advance, he knows what will happen, he has good anticipation. He is a proud guy who defends the right way and keeps getting better at it."[20]
— Dominique Ducharme on Beaudin, May 2018
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | Châteauguay Grenadiers | QMAAA | 41 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 10 | ||
| 2015–16 | Châteauguay Grenadiers | QMAAA | 21 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 64 | 5 | 36 | 41 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 68 | 12 | 57 | 69 | 47 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 53 | 7 | 49 | 56 | 48 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 | ||
| 2019–20 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 59 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 19 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 9 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 66 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 39 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 16 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | HC Sparta Praha | ELH | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Canada | WC |  | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Canada | SC | 4th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Senior totals | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Nicolas Beaudin". Elite Prospects. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Phil (March 11, 2020). "Nicolas Beaudin is set to make his NHL debut as the Blackhawks continue incorporating prospects into the lineup". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Wescott, Chris (July 18, 2018). "FEATURE: Beaudin evolved his game with help from his mentors". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Repêchage 2015" (in French). Drummondville Voltigeurs. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2018. [dead link]
- ^ "Les gagnants du gala reconnaissance sont maintenant connus" (in French). Drummondville Voltigeurs. April 18, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018. [dead link]
- ^ a b Neveau, James (June 23, 2018). "Blackhawks Finish Selections in 2018 NHL Draft". NBC Chicago. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "Release: Blackhawks agree to terms with Beaudin". Chicago Blackhawks. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018 – via NHL.com.
- ^ Thompson, Phil (March 11, 2020). "Nicolas Beaudin is set to make his NHL debut as the Blackhawks continue incorporating prospects into the lineup". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Kane scores twice, Blackhawks skate past Sharks 6-2". ESPN. Associated Press. March 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Pope, Ben (January 30, 2021). "Nicolas Beaudin's assertiveness, supported by Blackhawks coaches, helps him break into NHL". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Pope, Ben (October 26, 2022). "Blackhawks give failed prospects Nicolas Beaudin, Evan Barratt fresh starts". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Jackets use 4-goal third period to beat Blackhawks 6-5". ESPN. Associated Press. February 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Cosentino, Sam (October 26, 2022). "What the Canadiens get in trade for 2018 first-rounder Nicolas Beaudin". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Canadiens acquire Nicolas Beaudin from Chicago Blackhawks". October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Cowan, Stu (July 13, 2023). "Canadiens sign Nicolas Beaudin, Lucas Condotta to two-way deals". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Amy (September 30, 2023). "Canadiens Place Four Players On Waivers". The Hockey News. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Contract termination for Nicolas Beaudin". NHL.com. Montreal Canadiens. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ "DVĚ NOVÉ POSILY: PŘICHÁZÍ BEAUDIN A HRABÍK" (in Czech). HC Sparta Praha. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ @NHLBlackhawks (June 22, 2018). "Blueliner Nicolas Beaudin says he models his style of play after defenseman Jake Gardiner. #NHLDraft" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Lepage, Guillaume (May 3, 2018). "Beaudin emerging as solid two-way defenseman prospect for 2018 draft". NHL.com. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database