In 2018’s NHL Entry Draft, the Blackhawks were in a position that they had only been in once since 2002: they had two first round draft picks. With the eighth overall pick, Chicago took a smaller, offensively skilled defenseman in Adam Boqvist. With the 27th overall pick, Chicago again took a smaller, offensively skilled defenseman in Nicolas Beaudin. Since then, Beaudin has often been a secondary thought, or overshadowed when talking about the future of the Blackhawks’ defensive core. But, as Blackhawks development camp continues on, it is becoming harder to ignore the progress Beaudin has made and his game is ready to take him out of the shadows.
Beaudin working on two-way abilities ahead of pro debut
Coming into his second development camp with the Blackhawks, Beaudin looked smooth in his skating and had a great pace to his play as he went through drills. It is very evident when watching him that his mobility and his play with the puck on his stick are his biggest strengths.
Coming in at 6 feet and just about 180 pounds, Beaudin is on the smaller side of what you would like to see from NHL-level defensemen. While there have been plenty of successful players at that size, there is always a challenge to overcome the increasing physicality of the league, especially for a player like Beaudin, making his professional debut this year, likely with the Rockford IceHogs to start, after playing three and a half seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL.
Nicolas Beaudin blueline drill #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/eHNeq5D50E
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 16, 2019
“I feel like I am a more complete player now,” Beaudin said on Tuesday. “Last year, I was like, ‘Wow,’ coming into a big organization and this year I am more on the job. I know what to do.”
Making the jump to the professional ranks for Beaudin will be tricky. His game in the QMJHL was very offensively minded when he was drafted by the Blackhawks, able to produce on the power play and at even strength. But, last year, while he saw a dip in his production on the scoresheet, Beaudin was more focused on becoming a more well-rounded defenseman.
“Last year, I was more of an offensive defenseman,” Beaudin said. “This year, I feel like more of a two-way, more complete player. I’m a smooth skater, but I can work on moving my feet quicker.”
After 244 QMJHL games and 187 points (playoffs included), Beaudin will make his professional debut in 2019–20. The likelihood that he makes the Blackhawks roster out of camp is very slim, so he will get his first crack in the AHL with the IceHogs. Along with Beaudin, Boqvist and Chad Krys, who are also in camp this week, also appear set to begin the season in the AHL with Rockford.
2018 1st Rd pick Nicolas Beaudin with the skating and the stickhandling #Blackhawks #IceHogs pic.twitter.com/Ii1gi02zTE
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 15, 2019
On Wednesday afternoon before the prospects took the ice for the full-team session, General Manager Stan Bowman spoke to the media about the first two days of camp. When addressing the defensive group of prospects, Bowman had high praise for the trio of Beaudin, Boqvist and Ian Mitchell. In regards to Beaudin, Bowman made it clear that the ability to play up to the physical level of the pro game and to be well-rounded in his abilities should be his main focus.
“He’s a smaller defenseman, so the challenge is going to be the defending part,” Bowman said. “We like his two-way ability; he was probably the top defenseman in the QMJHL last year. He was on a good team and played a lot of minutes and played all situations. You’re trying to find your niche as a defenseman and I think the biggest thing is don’t get away from what you do well. He’s a pretty smart player; he’s got some creativity to his game. He’s not a high-risk player, but he’s got the ability to play offense as well as be defending and learning at his size how to play against bigger players, have a good stick, use his feet and his brain to defend, all the attributes you want a player in the NHL to have. So, it’s not one thing with Beaudin; it’s becoming an all-around defenseman.”
Friday’s full-team scrimmage will be the first showing for many of the prospects in camp to see how they have progressed year over year. For Beaudin, if his ability to create plays at a high pace and make sound defensive plays in his own end shows, he can make his case to no longer be the ‘throw-in’ when discussing the future of Chicago defense.