Ducks ink Beaulieu to 1-year pact off pro tryout

The Anaheim Ducks rewarded defenseman Nathan Beaulieu with a one-year, one-way contract Saturday after inviting him to training camp on a professional tryout.

The deal is worth $850,000. It's the same term and salary the Carolina Hurricanes gave blue-liner and fellow PTO recipient Calvin de Haan earlier in the day.

Beaulieu was limited to 24 games last season due to injury. He played those contests with the Winnipeg Jets before they placed him on long-term injured reserve on March 9. Less than two weeks later, the Jets traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional seventh-round selection. However, Beaulieu didn't play a game for the Metropolitan Division club.

The Ontario-born rearguard spent parts of four seasons with Winnipeg. Before that, he played parts of two campaigns with the Buffalo Sabres after suiting up for five with the Montreal Canadiens.

Beaulieu's most productive campaign came with the Habs in 2016-17 when he collected 28 points and 102 blocked shots over 74 games. The 17th overall pick in 2011 will turn 30 in December.

The Ducks may be addressing their defensive depth due to Urho Vaakanainen's condition. The 23-year-old was stretchered off during a preseason game and hospitalized Friday night after crashing hard into the boards. The team later said Vaakanainen was conscious and alert with movement in his extremities.