The Dundee Stars have attempted to kickstart their season with an offensive addition, signing forward Brent Beaudoin for the remainder of the 2023-24 Elite League campaign.
The 27-year-old centreman arrives in Dundee following a seven-game stint with HK Poprad in the Slovak Extraliga, for whom he tallied one assist.
However, his performances and point production prior to his ill-fated spell on the continent suggest that the Stars have acquired the offensive pop they have missed through the first five weeks of the season.
With that in mind, senior reporter Luke James reviews Beaudoin’s career path, analyses his skillset, and projects his role on the Stars.
Who is Dundee Stars forward Brent Beaudoin?
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Beaudoin is well-established as a top-six scoring threat at the professional level, with creditable experience in the NCAA and ECHL.
The Londonderry, New Hampshire-born forward spent four seasons at Brown University, posting 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 127 appearances and serving as an alternate captain in his senior year.
Beaudoin’s collegiate form drew the attention of professional scouts and saw him join the ECHL’s Worcester Railers on a full-time basis in 2021-22.
The 5-foot-11 attacker spent two seasons in the North American third tier, recording 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 134 appearances.
Beaudoin moved overseas for the first time earlier this year, but his stint with HK Poprad lasted only seven games and generated a solitary assist.
How will Brent Beaudoin help the Dundee Stars?
In the words of his new head coach, Beaudoin was attractive to the Stars because of his reputation as a finisher.
“I watched the video on Brent and did my research on him, and it is clear that he skates very well but also, he has a very good offensive upside too, if you look at his numbers last year in the coast especially,” said Marc LeFebvre, who holds a dual role as Dundee’s director of hockey operations.
“We believe this league is more suited to his style [than the Slovak Extraliga] and we are looking for someone to give us that offensive spark, and if guys can feed off of that and hopefully it gets everyone else going because the one area that we are really missing something right now is in the goals department.
“We are creating chances but we are just missing that finishing touch right now at the net front and that can change games for us, because an extra goal or two per game, is exactly what we need to get us going.”
LeFebvre is accurate in his analysis.
Beaudoin isn’t the fastest, strongest, or most skilful centreman on the planet – but he plays an effective, two-way game and can put the puck in the back of the net.
Dundee, meanwhile, have been ineffective in the offensive zone this term, scoring only 17 goals in their opening ten games of the league and cup season.
Anthony Rinaldi, Ryan Valentini, and Spencer Naas are the only Stars to have scored more than once this season – which is a damning indictment of the squad’s overall attacking prowess.
Beaudoin will help, in that there is no doubt.
Where will Brent Beaudoin fit into the Dundee Stars’ line-up?
Beaudoin is a lock to make the Stars’ top-six, with Carter Johnson expected to slide down the depth chart.
Dundee Stars Forwards .vs. Nottingham Panthers (22/10/23)
- Johnny Walker – Carter Johnson – Brendan Harms
- Tommy Parrotino – Ryan Valentini – Anthony Rinaldi
- Spencer Naas – James Phelan – Jake Elmer
- Jonathan McBean – Joshua Brittain – Craig Garrigan
Johnson has laboured through his ice time to start the campaign, sinking to a minus-five plus-minus score and registering only 17 shots on goal through 17:27 average time on ice.
As Dundee’s second line has shown the most potential thus far, a first unit audition could be in the works for Beaudoin.
