The Chicago Blackhawks have sent a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Anthony Beauvillier this evening. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had the news:
With the recent resolution involving Corey Perry being put on unconditional waivers along with Taylor Hall being done for the season due to right knee surgery, the Blackhawks were on the hunt to find some more depth on the wing to bring in.
Beauvillier appears to be it.
Blackhawks Light On Depth, Go For Beauvillier
The former 28th overall pick has eight points (2-6) in 22 games this season for the Canucks. He broke into the league with the New York Islanders and was part of the Bo Horvat deal back in January. The Hawks are getting a goal scorer who could threaten to get 20 as he’s flirted with the range as he had 18 last season and twice more in his career. In his second season in the NHL, Beauvillier had 21 goals.
The move will certainly help fill the hole that Hall left where he could see time on the power play as well as being a top-nine, if not a top-six forward for Chicago. He was on the top line for the Canucks in their 4-3 loss to San Jose back on Saturday.
It allows for the Blackhawks to tinker a bit more with lines where tonight, Nick Foligno returned to the top line and Lukas Reichel headed to the second line.
Reichel in particular might benefit a bit from less pressure as the move to the top line didn’t result in what the Blackhawks were hoping for in terms of production.
Regardless of how head coach Luke Richardson decides to do things, adding a veteran like Anthony Beauvillier will provide the Blackhawks with not only more depth, but also some more flexibility for the cost of just their 2024 fifth-round pick.
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