Get to Know the Newest Capital, Anthony Beauvillier

New York made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in 2018-19. The Islanders swept the Penguins in the first round before being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in their next series. Beauvillier played all eight games for New York with a goal and an assist. 

The following season, Beauvillier skated in 22 postseason games as New York blitzed to the Eastern Conference Final in 2019-20. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs included the Stanley Cup Qualifier series and the traditional NHL postseason rounds. During the Islanders’ playoff run, Beauvillier added nine goals and five assists for 14 points. New York lost a grueling six-game series to the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the final two games in overtime. 

New York was stopped again by Tampa Bay in 2020-21, except this time, it was a seven-game battle in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In 19 games over three postseason rounds, Beauvillier scored five times and added eight assists. The Islanders missed the playoffs the following season, and the forward was included in a massive trade package with Vancouver before New York reappeared in the postseason. On Jan. 30, 2023, Beauvillier was included in a deal with the Vancouver Canucks that returned center Bo Horvat to the Islanders. Overall, the first-round pick scored 266 points in 457 regular season games and 29 points in 49 postseason games for New York. 

Beauvillier Bounced Around the NHL Last Season

The 2023-24 NHL season was tough for Beauvillier, as he was traded twice in four months. After finishing the final 33 games with Vancouver in 2023-24, the forward played the opening 22 contests of the season for the Canucks. A November trade sent him to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick, where he briefly played with new teammate Taylor Raddysh.

Beauvillier skated in 23 games in Chicago until he was moved to a playoff contender, the Nashville Predators, at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline for a fifth-round pick in 2024. He finished the regular season with Nashville, registering three points in 15 games. A typical 15-20 goal and 40-point scorer in the NHL, Beauvillier scored five goals and 17 points over 60 games last season. In the playoffs, he contributed a goal and an assist in a six-game opening-round loss by the Predators to the Canucks.   

Beauvillier Signs One-Year Contract With Pittsburgh Last Offseason 

In July 2024, Beauvillier signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Penguins. The stability of a typical NHL hockey schedule saw the forward rebound this season with 17 goals and 26 points in 63 games for Pittsburgh. Naturally, the Canadian center was traded from a non-contending club to a playoff-bound squad at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. Washington viewed him as an essential upgrade to the lineup, sending the Penguins a second-round pick in the 2025 Draft for his services. 

Beauvillier was not awake as the trade between Washington and Pittsburgh was completed. “I was still sleeping, so it was a crazy morning,” he said. “But hearing that I was coming to Washington, I couldn’t be more pumped. It’s definitely an honor and a privilege.” The NHL veteran hopes to bring “some speed and energy and hopefully a couple of goals” to the Capitals lineup as the Metropolitan Division’s best team cruises towards the postseason. 

Beauvillier is expected to play his first game in a Washington uniform tomorrow at Capital One Arena as the Capitals host the Kraken at 3:30 PM. Seattle was victorious in Philadelphia this afternoon, while Washington had the afternoon off following a Friday night win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Capitals have 19 games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season.