Buffalo trades for Montreal blue-liner Nathan Beaulieu.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres announced on Saturday that the team has acquired defenseman Nathan Beaulieu from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Buffalo’s third-round pick (68th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Beaulieu (24, 6-foot2, 205 lbs.) appeared in his fifth NHL season with the Canadiens in 2016-17, logging career highs in games played (74), goals (4), assists (24) and points (28). In 225 career NHL regular-season games, Beaulieu has totaled 60 points (7+53) and a plus-19 rating, adding four points in 17 career playoff games.
A first-round pick (17th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, Beaulieu was drafted by the Canadiens after four seasons in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs that included a Memorial Cup championship in 2011 and QMJHL titles in 2011 and 2012. A native of Strathroy, Ontario he also won a bronze medal while representing Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Following this trade, the Sabres still have seven picks in the 2017 NHL Draft in the following rounds: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (from Minnesota), 3rd (from Washington), 4th, 6th, and 7th.