New York Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier Expectations for 2018-2019

After a strong second half for the New York Islanders last year, Anthony Beauvillier is ready for a real breakout season with the big club.

Last year was an odd year for Anthony Beauvillier and the New York Islanders. He started the year off very slow, while the Islanders were winning regularly. In his first 20 games of the year, he only had six points.

That would put him on a pace for just 25 points. Beau’s production was almost nonexistent. So the Islanders decided it would be best to send him to the AHL.

He played three games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In those three games, he had two goals and immediately got the call back up to the big club. It was the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

After Beau returned, he was dominant. He had 29 points in 39 games after being called back up. A large chunk of that playing time was on one of the more dominant second lines in the league with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle to his right.

The final stat line for Beauvillier was 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) in 71 games. That’s a pace of 42 points over a full 82 game season.

In all likelihood, Anthony Beauvillier moves up to the top line with Barzal and Eberle this year. Beau, who’s natural position is center, is also a darkhorse candidate for the second line center job but Brock Nelson seems to be pulling away with that role.

Expectations

Anthony Beauvillier, now donning number 18, should play all 82 games unless there’s an injury. There will be no more healthy scratches, no more trips to the AHL, or no more demotions to the bottom six.

Beau should continue to build off his strong second half. It wasn’t a fluke, that’s what the Islanders expected when they took him in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

82 games, 27 goals, 25 assists (52 points)

At just 21 years old both he and Barzal should be a one-two punch on the top unit for years to come. They’re very friendly off the ice and the chemistry showed last year.

The Islanders have a young core, and a nice prospect pool to build around. This is more of a retool than a rebuild and Anthony Beauvillier should be here for the long haul.