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.

 

Talent Analysis

An absolute wizard on the ice, Deslauriers is a pleasure to watch, thanks to his remarkable skating ability. As an offensive defenseman, Deslauriers has the ability to pick up a loose puck in his own zone and lead the counter-attack in the matter of just a handful of strides. Though he sometimes gets carried away with his desire to rush up the ice and be a key part of the offensive attack. For this reason Deslauriers has experimented with playing at the forward position at times during his career to some success. At either position, Deslauriers' ability to out-skate the opposition and handle the puck with the best of them furthers his regard as an intriguing prospect.

 

Future

Deslauriers still is one of the most talented prospects in the Kings’ system despite being slow on the development side a bit. Towards the end of the 2012-13 season Deslauriers looked much more comfortable and was in turn more productive. He made a switch from defense to left wing in training camp for the Monarchs and has looked much more comfortable while being less of a risk defensively. He will likely be with Manchester again next year and can hopefully take another step forward in potentially turning into a viable skill forward or a puck moving blueliner.

Deslauriers was dealt along with Hudson Fasching by the Los Angeles Kings to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Brayden McNabb and draft picks at the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline.