Nathan Beaulieu retires after 11-year NHL career

Nathan Beaulieu announced his retirement from professional hockey on Wednesday, completing an NHL career that spanned 11 seasons.

“Congratulations to Nathan Beaulieu, who has officially announced his retirement from pro hockey,” the NHLPA wrote in a social media post. “Wishing the former first-round pick the best of luck in the future!”

Beaulieu, 32, played 471 regular-season games with the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks, scoring 12 goals and 86 assists for 98 points and 340 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

His best statistical season came in 2016-17 with the Canadiens, recording four goals and 24 assists for 28 points, averaging 19:29 of ice time.

Beaulieu, a native of Strathroy, Ont., also spent parts of four seasons in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs and San Diego Gulls, scoring 17 goals and recording 46 assists for 63 points in 136 regular-season games.

Beaulieu spent the last two seasons playing in the Swiss League with Kloten HC and Russia’s KHL with Nur-Sultan Barys.

Beaulieu, the No. 17 overall pick for Montreal in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, spent four seasons in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs, helping the club with two President’s Cup championship in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Memorial Cup in 2011. Through four seasons, Beaulieu recorded 37 goals and 115 assists for 152 points in 233 games. In 61 QMJHL playoff games, he scored 12 goals and added 36 assists for 48 points.

Internationally, Beaulieu represented Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships, earning bronze. He was also part of Canada’s 2023 Spengler Cup roster.