If you've watched Nathan Beaulieu in his 51 games as a Buffalo Sabre defenseman this season, it seems as if every game he has an egregious turnover that leads to a golden opportunity for the opposition with many of them ending up in the Buffalo net. That trend has subsided as of late but the numbers are still pretty ugly at this point in the season as Beaulieu has only seven points (1+6) in those 51 games and is a minus-19 which is third-worst on the team.
Yet despite those numbers and the fact that this particular blogger wanted him run out of town earlier in the season, Beaulieu has somehow grown on me lately. The 25 yr. old has a skill-package that's made for the way the game is played today from the back end and it's probably why Sabres GM Jason Botterill sent a third-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens to acquire him last off season. But those gaffes, oh those gaffes.
Beaulieu was drafted as an offensive-minded defenseman with excellent skating and puck-moving abilities. He was taken 17th-overall in 2011 by Les Habitants after helping the St. Johns Sea Dogs (QMJHL) to the 2011 Memorial Cup and spent five years in the Montreal organization, the last of which had him skating on the top-pair early in the season but slowly seeing his role reduced. Beaulieu was a healthy scratch late in the season and was in the press box for the decisive Game-6 loss by Montreal to the NY Rangers in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was traded by the Canadiens just prior to the NHL roster freeze heading into the expansion draft in June.
All the positive traits he was traded for remained as he skated for his new team coached by offensive-minded Phil Housley, as were the turnovers and missed coverage. Similar to what happened in Montreal last season, Beaulieu started out logging big minutes but slowly saw his time reduced and was a healthy scratch for a number of games this season. Yet it's hard not to like him when you see him get on his horse and move that puck up ice as it's exactly what Housley wants his defensemen to do.
In watching Beaulieu all season, the 6'2" 200 lb. d-man also plays with an edge as he's looking to make a hit or try an clear the front of the crease. He's also willing to drop the gloves as he did last night against rugged Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin. Although taking on Martin and his 6'3" 210 lb. was a tall order, Beaulieu didn't hesitate and also said afterwards that he was grateful that Martin obliged.
"Sometimes it's just something you need to do," Beaulieu told the gathered media after Buffalo's 5-2 loss to the Leafs last night. "[I] have a lot of respect for him over there to give me an opportunity. He's a tough customer. I was just trying to wake the boys up."
It's the fourth time that Beaulieu has dropped the gloves this season and it wasn't against Alex Semin-type buttercups.
This was no staged fight either as Beaulieu simply doesn't like the Toronto Maple Leafs which added an endearing quality to the situation. The Strathroy, Ontario native grew up not far from Toronto but never bought into Leaf Nation and has a healthy dislike for them. "I've had a hatred for them since I was born," he said last night before giving them props for being "one of the best organizations in all of sports."
Beaulieu has one more season left on his contract with Buffalo and a lot can happen. Hell, a lot has happened already as the Sabres are once again the laughingstock of the league, presently sitting in last place. Although were not sure that Beaulieu will clean up his turnovers and d-zone mishaps, it is refreshing to see spunk and grit coming from a player that has skills to contribute in the way the game is played today.
Where it all leads is another story for another day, but for now it was good to see some fire coming from a Sabres player and good for Beaulieu to land a punch that buckled Martin's knees.
(Thx, Extremeya)
One final note, just prior to that fight Martin downed Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues with a slew-foot. Whether that was part of the throw-down isn't known but the league should take a look at it and fine Martin for pulling that stunt.
*****
The Sabres were clearly not ready for the game last night and looked every bit the team that were five days between games. It didn't help that they let in a bad goal to start things off and were playing from behind all night. It's something you can't do against a speedy, talented club like Toronto. Hence a 5-2 loss and horde of Leafs fans leaving KeyBank Center happy.
With the loss, the Sabres remain at the bottom of the standings:
With 12 games remaining in the season, Buffalo in last place and if the season were to end now, they'd have a 18.5% chance of winning the lottery to select first-overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.
There is an NHL lottery simulator web site which has become very popular for Sabres fans the last few years, when you go there you can pick the winners for the first three spots in the draft.
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