Why the Utah Hockey Club made a trade to sign Cole Beaudoin – Deseret News

After center Tij Iginla was selected as number 6 in the first round of the NHL Draft, it was not over for the Utah Hockey Club on Friday.

General manager Bill Armstrong saw that center Cole Beaudoin was still on the draft list and knew he had to act. He made a trade to get the 6’2″, 215lb center to the Boston Bruins with the 24th pick.

“His work ethic could change the culture of our organization just by how hard he plays the game,” Armstrong said.

Utah’s NHL franchise entered the evening with just one first-round pick, but acquired the second through a trade with the Colorado Avalanche to select Beaudoin, their second center selection in the 2024 draft.

Utah traded the numbers 38 and 71 of this year’s draft as well as a second-round selection for 2025 to their neighbors from the Rocky Mountains for the number 24 pick.

“New franchise… second choice ever and it’s incredible just to think about it. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see everybody,” Beaudoin said.

Beaudoin totaled 62 points – 28 goals and 34 assists – last season for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, the top junior ice hockey league in Canada.

He also won gold for Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship alongside his new Utah teammate Iginla. During Canada’s run, he provided two assists and scored two goals.

“His work ethic and the way he plays the game – I’m confident he’s going to be an important part of our culture with the work ethic he brings to every moment of the game,” Armstrong said.

“He’s an impressive kid. He’s built in some ways the way a Utah player should be built, I think. He’s a big kid who works and doesn’t give an inch on the ice.”

Like Iginla, Beaudoin also comes from an NHL family. His father Eric played 53 games for the Florida Panthers before his career in Europe and even played 44 games for the Utah Grizzlies in the 2001/02 season.

His uncle Nic also played in the minor leagues.

“I think he’s just excited. He’s happy for me, he’s just proud of me,” Beaudoin said of his father. “He’s been telling me since I was a kid to work hard and that’s what I try to do on the rink and off the rink. So he’s definitely been there for me and I’m sure I’ll have a good conversation with him when I see him.”

Utah gets a “two-way player” in Beaudoin who is good both offensively and defensively. He is physical, strong, aggressive and hardworking, is always near the puck and has the ability to win puck battles. He is willing to do the dirty work, but is also adept at playmaking and shooting.

“I want Utah to know that I’m going to be the player that gives everything he’s got,” Beaudoin said. “Whether it’s in practice, in games or whatever, I’m going to give everything I’ve got and I want to show them that.”