MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens signed defenceman Nathan Beaulieu to a three-year contract on Wednesday.

He had 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 53 games with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Saint John Sea Dogs this past season.

The six-foot-two, 190-pound native of Strathroy, Ont., was selected by Montreal with the 17th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.