Jean-François Bérubé Bio
Jean-François Bérubé is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender whose career spanned from 2010 to 2023. Drafted in the fourth round, 95th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Bérubé built a professional résumé that combined AHL starting roles with NHL depth appearances for multiple clubs.
Early Life and Background
Jean-François Bérubé was born on July 13, 1991, in Repentigny, Quebec, Canada. As a youth he played in the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor team from the Mille-Îles area of Laval, Quebec, an early showcase for many future professionals.
Bérubé developed through Quebec junior hockey, playing major junior in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Montreal Junior Hockey Club before turning professional. His size at 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) and left-catching style marked him early as a goaltender with pro potential.
Path to Hockey
Bérubé’s path from Quebec junior hockey to the professional ranks followed the conventional Canadian development ladder. Strong performances in the QMJHL attracted NHL interest and led to his selection by the Los Angeles Kings in 2009, providing the opportunity to begin his professional career within an NHL organization.
After the draft, Bérubé continued to progress through development camps and junior competition before signing his first NHL entry-level contract. He moved into the American Hockey League as the primary development venue, where he earned starting assignments and the experience required for NHL call-ups.
Jean-François Bérubé Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
Bérubé turned professional in 2010 and was signed by the Los Angeles Kings to a three-year, entry-level contract on May 24, 2011. He joined the Kings organization and served as the starting goaltender for their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, where he gained heavy workload experience and the routine of pro hockey seasons.
During these development years he established himself as an AHL-caliber starter and organizational depth option for the NHL. His AHL experience paved the way for his first NHL opportunity after several seasons of professional play.
NHL Breakthrough (2015–2017)
On October 6, 2015, the New York Islanders claimed Jean-François Bérubé off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, creating his first sustained NHL opportunity. Just days later, on October 10, 2015, Bérubé made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks, stopping 30 of 34 shots in a 4–1 loss, a strong individual showing for his first game at the highest level.
Through the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons Bérubé served in a backup role with the Islanders behind established starters, at times moving into a full-time backup role as roster needs shifted. His time in New York marked his clearest stretch on an NHL roster and provided multiple seasons of top-league exposure.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2017–2018)
Bérubé was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft as part of a broader roster and pick transaction between the Golden Knights and the New York Islanders. Shortly afterwards, on July 1, 2017, he signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth $1.5 million.
He opened the season in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs before being recalled to Chicago in February 2018. Bérubé made his Blackhawks debut on February 23, 2018, earning a 3–1 victory over the San Jose Sharks and finishing the season with several NHL starts while continuing to play a primary role in the AHL development system.
Journeyman Years (2018–2023)
On June 27, 2018, the Blackhawks traded Bérubé to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Jordan Schroeder. He later signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2019, and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the 2019–20 season, where he appeared in 29 games and recorded three shutouts.
During 2020 and 2021 Bérubé continued to move between the AHL and NHL. He signed a one-year contract with the Ontario Reign of the AHL on December 31, 2020, returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization on a one-year, two-way contract in October 2021 after attending training camp on a professional basis, and appeared in NHL games for the Blue Jackets during the 2021–22 season, collecting multiple wins.
In 2022 Bérubé attended the Florida Panthers training camp on a professional tryout and began the 2022–23 campaign on a PTO with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. At the NHL trade deadline on March 3, 2023, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers for the remainder of the season. Bérubé retired from professional play in 2023, concluding a pro career that covered both the AHL and NHL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jean-François Bérubé was a left-catching goaltender who combined the workload of an AHL starter with the role of a reliable NHL backup. His professional career shows utility as organizational depth and the ability to step into NHL games when clubs required experienced goaltending support.
Notable Events and Milestones
Notable moments in Bérubé’s career include his NHL debut on October 10, 2015, when he stopped 30 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks, his selection by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 Expansion Draft, and his NHL win for the Chicago Blackhawks on February 23, 2018. His 2019–20 AHL season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms produced three shutouts, a clear AHL-level achievement that season.
Jean-François Bérubé Career Wins
Bérubé recorded wins at both the AHL and NHL levels across his career. He served as a starting goaltender for AHL clubs and produced NHL starts and victories when called upon, contributing reliably as a depth goaltender across several organizations.
NHL Highlights
His NHL highlights include an impressive NHL debut performance on October 10, 2015, with the New York Islanders and a first Blackhawks victory on February 23, 2018. Bérubé added NHL wins with other teams during later call-ups, demonstrating the capacity to perform in relief and in starts when needed.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the AHL level Bérubé logged numerous starts and notable performances, including three shutouts with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the 2019–20 season. His AHL workload established him as a dependable starter for affiliate clubs while he remained available for NHL elevation.
Jean-François Bérubé Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jean-François Bérubé was born and raised in Repentigny, Quebec. Public records in the provided sources do not detail family members or a sporting lineage beyond his youth hockey development in Quebec.
Personal Life
Bérubé is Canadian by nationality and was born on July 13, 1991. Available public information in the supplied sources does not provide verified details about marital status, children, or residence at the time of retirement.
2025 Season Performance
Jean-François Bérubé retired from professional hockey in 2023 and is not active as a player for the 2025 season. His professional record stands as a career that spanned 2010 to 2023, highlighted by sustained AHL starts and multiple NHL appearances across several organizations.
As a retired professional, Bérubé’s on-ice contributions remain part of the organizations he served, from the Manchester Monarchs and Rockford IceHogs at the AHL level to NHL appearances with the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and others. There are no verified public updates in the supplied sources indicating a playing return for 2025.