Observations:

January 2016 – Deslauriers has been ruled out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury that was sustained in the Sabres’ first game of 2016 calendar year. Deslauriers has played 38 games this season, averaging 9:39 of ice time and tallying seven points, three goals and four assists.

October 2015 – Deslauriers was promoted to the first line last night, playing with Ryan O’Reilly and Tyler Ennis. He played 15:32 minutes, recorded zero points, a plus-1 and 6 hits. Deslauriers has shown he has a little finish to his game scoring one goal and one assist in nine games played, but he shouldn’t be a mainstay on this top line. Coach Bylsma hopes that O’Reilly and Ennis feed off of Deslauriers tenacity and net presence. With the Evander Kane injury, watch for Deslauriers to get a bump in minutes and points playing in the top six for the next couple weeks. If you are in a deep league that includes hits and blocks, Deslauriers could be a solid pickup for at least a few games over the next week or so, but the league has to be pretty deep.

July 2015 – Deslauriers’ first full NHL season was pretty good, he finished with 15 points, five goals, 10 assists, minus-24, 71 PIMs and 261 hits in all 82 games played. That stat line is decent considering Buffalo’s horrendous year residing in the basement of the NHL. Deslauriers could be looked at in fantasy as the guy you pick up from free agency to help you, where a five to eight hit night will help you win the hits category. Keep his name in mind when you need a boost in stats from penalty minutes and hits, otherwise he shouldn’t be looked at for points or plus/minus. He is unlikely to move off of the fourth line in Buffalo for years to come. Looking back at how Byslma coached his bottom two lines in Pittsburgh; he used them mostly as energy lines to try to get his stars the momentum, Nicolas Deslauriers will fit that role in Buffalo and should get around 10-13 minutes of ice time per game. Paul Zwambag

May 2014 – Deslauriers played well enough in his 17 game trial with the Sabres to be rewarded with a new two-year contract. His new deal is worth $637,500 per season and will get him a spot in the bottom six where Buffalo will hope to see some overall progression. Deslauriers only mustered up one goal and one assist in his 17 appearances and there's only room to go up from there so look for him to improve on those totals now that he has the security of a new contract and opportunity. Travis Watson

April 2014 – It took 14 games but Nicolas Deslauriers finally scored his first career NHL goal and point. Deslauriers scooped up the loose puck amongst a pool of bodies by the faceoff dot and fired it home beating Detroit's Jimmy Howard. Unfortunately the goal came in a losing effort as the Sabres fell 3-2 to the playoff hopeful Red Wings. The verdict is still out on Deslauriers but so far he hasn't shown enough from his play to warrant a full-time spot on the roster for next season. For Tim Murray and company the past 14 games have given them some quality time to evaluate the 6'1" rookie from Lasalle, Quebec and assess where his future may lie with the franchise. Travis Watson

March 2014 – The Sabres acquired Deslauriers at the trade deadline on March 5th and it didn't take long for his new team to give him a chance as they recalled him on an emergency basis for their March 7th match-up with the Panthers. Deslauriers, who was drafted as a defenseman, made his NHL debut for the Sabres on the wing and got in a shade over 15 minutes of action. Look for the rebuilding Sabres to give Deslauriers and likeminded prospects every opportunity down the stretch to see what they have coming up the pipeline as they look ahead to the future. Travis Watson

March 2014 – Drafted out of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL in 2009, Nic Deslauriers has spent the last three seasons honing his skills with the Manchester Monarchs contributing modest point productions while playing a physical game. He packs a good shot and shows a willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Deslauriers has played both defense and the wing showing good versatility. Deslauriers was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres from the Los Angeles Kings on March 5^th, 2014. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: C

A former defenseman who has transitioned to a left winger, he will chip in very few points from the bottom-six lines and will contribute to the PIM and hit categories every game.

Footage:

Deslauriers fight vs. Steve Oleksy:

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