Nathan Beaulieu: Drew Doughty 2.0?
Responsible puck-moving defencemen are a dime a dozen in the NHL these days. Not a week goes by during the regular season without the mention of how valuable they are to a team’s breakout, power-play and in-play subtleties.
Nathan Beaulieu, a recent Memorial Cup champion and All-Star with the Saint John Sea Dogs, is knocking on the door and will be duly prepared for the NHL with some seasoning. Until that time, the use of readily available resources should accelerate his development.
Even though he had the luxury of bonding with NHLers such as Cory Perry and David Bolland while his father Jacques Beaulieu coached a London Knights squad that captured the Memorial Cup back in 2005, the versatile rearguard credits a Guelph Storm alumnus as his strongest on-ice influence; Drew Doughty.
“He rarely makes a mistake and he’s so determined,” said Beaulieu of his idol, the Los Angeles Kings stud.
“He makes a difference out there and that’s basically what I want to do.”
With a 2010-11 regular season stat line that reads 12 goals, 33 assists, 45 points, plus-44 and 52 penalty minutes in 65 games, Beaulieu did exactly what he wanted to do in his draft year – make an impact.
Scouts have drooled over the patience Beaulieu portrays through his game. His ability to rush the puck 200-feet without hindering any rhythm his squad has built up has been another well-received asset.
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During 2011 the Memorial Cup, Beaulieu displayed excellent hand-eye coordination and balance as he consistently kept the puck in at the blueline while being harassed by opponents. The Strathroy, Ontario native can also be an effective power-play quarterback and has the smarts to ripen into an NHL-caliber player capable of taking on the role of a responsible puck-moving d-man.
While under immense pressure as the No. 1-ranked club in the nation, Beaulieu and company went to work on the Quebec league first, then finished off the final four tournament with a 3-1 victory over host club Mississauga.
Over a total 23 postseason matches, the former QMJHL fourth-rounder averaged 0.89 points per game and finished with a plus-six rating.
These kinds of numbers and his all-around package have granted him an almost guaranteed top-15 spot in June’s NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota.
Beaulieu, who has a late 1992 birthday, is in line to be chosen after probable top-3 Adam Larsson. Niagara IceDog Dougie Hamilton and Kitchener Ranger Ryan Murphy are the only other blueline patrollers that have been consistently ranked before or shortly after the left-shooting Sea Dog.
Interestingly enough, Beaulieu, who obtained the fifth spot among North American skaters in the final rankings from NHL Central Scouting Services, played up front until his peewee years. At a tournament, his coach asked if he’d be willing to fill in for a few injured defenceman.
Beaulieu never looked back, and for good reason.
“I like being in control of the game back there,” he said. “I feel like you have the puck more. I like having the puck.”
After the move, Doughty, another puck-loving defenceman, became his foremost subject of study. Whenever the Storm came to town to battle his father’s Knights, young Beaulieu had his eyes locked on the smooth skating London, Ontario product.
Now that the two are with the same agency, Beaulieu has a had chance to pick his hero’s brain a few times during off-season skates back in Doughty’s hometown, only 40 kilometers away from Strathroy.
“He’s had so much success in junior and now the NHL that I think it’s a good road to put myself on,” Beaulieu said. “I’ll hopefully go down the same path.”
Being acquainted with past Knights and Doughty has been a blessing for the highly-touted NHL prospect. Such influences have been in addition to the ultra-advantageous father-son situation he has had his whole life.
Father Jacques has coached nine years in the Canadian Hockey League, including three seasons as the Sea Dogs’ general manager and head coach from 2006-2009. Poppa Beaulieu has recently accepted a general manager and head coach position with the Sarnia Sting.
Before the Sea Dogs hoisted the Memorial Cup on May 29, the mature 17-year-old reflected on a clearly unique occurrence that was unfolding before his eyes.
In typical Beaulieu fashion, he digressed gently.
“My father and I might have matching rings – and that’d be pretty cool.”
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Check out more of The Good Point’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft Prospects Series.
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