Nicolas Deslauriers

History

2008-09: Although not playing a central role with Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL, Nicolas Deslauriers contributed both offensively and in a physical role on the blueline.  His 30 points in 68 games was third amongst defensemen for the team and tops amongst their 17 year olds.  With the team’s top defender possibly moving on, a larger role with the team with open up for Deslauriers next season. Deslauriers was chosen in the third round, 84th overall, of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.

2009-10: The slick defenseman posted 9 goals, 36 assists, and 72 PIM in 65 regular season games. During the playoffs, he posted 2 goals and 6 assists in 11 games. Deslauriers was then traded during the offseason to the Gatineau Olympiques.

2010-11: Deslauriers got off to a fast start in his first season with Gatineau following three years with Rouyn-Noranda, posting 18 points in his first 19 games, before suffering a knee injury which forced him to miss Canada’s selection camp for the 2011 U20 World Junior Tournament. Deslauriers returned to the Olympiques lineup in February and was a key player during the playoffs as Gatineau advanced to the QMJHL Finals against eventual Memorial Cup champion Saint John. Deslauriers led Gatineau defensemen in scoring with 13 goals with 30 assists in 48 games and was +22 with 53 PMs. In 24 playoff games he was +9 and scored 5 goals with 15 assists and 19 PMs.  Deslauriers signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Los Angeles in May, 2011.

2011-12: Deslauriers made his pro debut as a 20-year-old, skating in 65 games for Los Angeles AHL affiliate Manchester. He scored 1 goal with 13 assists and was minus-14 with 67 penalty minutes. Manchester  finished second in the Atlantic Division and lost to Norfolk three games to one in a first round playoff series. Deslauriers was scoreless and minus-two with 7 penalty minutes in four playoff games.

2012-13: Deslauriers skated in 63 games for the Kings affiliate in Manchester in his second AHL season. After a slow start and limited ice time due to the NHL lockout, he displayed some of the offensive ability he showed in junior hockey – posting 12 points over the Monarch’s final 26 games. He scored 4 goals with 19 assists and was -14 with 80 penalty minutes during the regular season. The Monarchs finished third in the Atlantic Division and lost to Springfield in a first round playoff series. Deslauriers scored 2 goals, both on the power play, with 2 assists and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in four playoff games. He was with Los Angeles during the NHL playoffs but did not play in any games.

2013-14: Deslauriers made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres in a March 7th game at Florida after being obtained along with Hudson Fasching in exchange for Brayden McNabb and draft picks at the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline. He played in 17 games with the Sabres, scoring 1 goal and finishing -10 with 18 penalty minutes. Deslaurier spent most of the season in the AHL — playing 60 games for Kings affiliate Manchester and finishing the year with the Rochester Americans. In 65 regular season games he scored 19 goals with 23 assists and was +3 with 85 penalty minutes. Rochester finished second in the North Division and lost to Chicago in a first-round playoff series. Deslauriers scored 1 goal with 1 assist and had an even plus/minus with 9 penalty minutes in five playoff games.

2014-15: Deslauriers made the Sabres out of training camp as a left wing, averaging nearly 12 minutes of ice time during the season. He has supplied secondary scoring with Buffalo while also bringing a physical component to the lineup.

Talent Analysis

Deslauriers has found his niche in his fourth pro season — providing a physical element to the lineup and being a force on the forecheck. A converted defenseman who was known for his skating ability and puck handling skills during his junior career — sometimes getting himself into trouble with his exuberance and creativity — he has taken to playing in Ted Nolan's system and his play has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.

Future

Deslauriers — after struggling to crack the NHL lineup of the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings for the first three years of his pro career — has spent his first full season in the NHL with Buffalo in 2014-15. Shifted to wing after playing defense much of his career, he has taken to being an energy line, physical forward and has contributed in all three zones.