BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Realizing his days were numbered in Montreal, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu welcomes the trade that sent him to the Buffalo Sabres.
Aside from the chance to get a fresh start with a Phil Housley-coached team, Beaulieu expressed relief he didn’t have to deal with the uncertainty of being exposed in the NHL’s expansion draft this week.
Beaulieu spoke during a conference call Sunday, a day after Buffalo acquired him in exchange for a third-round pick.
The deal was struck just before NHL teams were required to submit their protected lists for the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft.