New York Islanders Single Year Deal For Anthony Beauvillier Would Be Best

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

A short bridge deal is probably what the New York Islanders and Anthony Beauvillier come to terms with. But how much will he get paid on that deal?

Last week we heard from New York Islanders RFA Anthony Beauvillier and his agent Philippe Lecavalier talk about a new deal. Beau talked about his confidence in staying with the Isles and his agent was confident they’d get a short-term deal from the club.

All of that is certainly true. There aren’t teams out there running to offer sheet Anthony Beauvillier. The only way Beau leaves the Islanders is thanks to a trade.

A two-year deal seems like Lou Lamoriello’s M.O. Both Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews got two-year deals after their ELC was over.

If a two-year deal is all but guaranteed, how much should that deal be worth?

The Price is Right

Ryan Pulock‘s two-year $4 million deal ($2 million AAV) has to be the absolute ceiling on any deal for Beauvillier. When he signed, Pulock was coming off his first full season in the NHL and scoring 32 points. At the time Pulock was transitioning into becoming the Islanders number one defenseman.

That’s nowhere near the case for Anthony Beauvillier. Beau is coming off a season where his production went down by 22 percent and where he went MIA for large stretches of the season. There’s no conceivable way his next contract exceeds a $2 million AAV.

Not to mention that Anthony Duclair, a comparable player in both substance and style just signed a single year $1.65 million deal with the Ottawa Senators after a 33 point season.

A two-year $1.25 million deal feels right for Anthony Beauvillier at his point in his career.

Betting On Himself

Ideally, I want Anthony Beauvillier to sign a single-year deal with the New York Islanders. I want him to bet on himself because I feel like he needs that motivating factor to get the best out of himself.

For two seasons now we’ve seen Beauvillier just disappear for…reasons. Last season he scored eight points in 32 games. The Islanders sent him to the AHL for just a few days and he came back as a man possessed. In his remaining 39 games he scored 28 points. A 0.72 point-per-game pace.

Last season, he was demoted to the third line after scoring a single point in 16 games. He immediately responded with a four-point effort against the Rangers. In the next 15 games, he’d score another eight points.

Beau seems to need motivation. There should be nothing more motivating than proving you’re worth a big contract.

The argument can be made that this year was a contract year and Beau didn’t produce. But Beau has never been through contract negotiations before. He signed his ELC months after being drafted.

Having to go through the waiting, the negotiations, all of it isn’t fun. He just saw how the organization dealt with guys like Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle. If they want you they’ll get a deal done early.

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A single year deal should act as a motivator to get the best out of Anthony Beauvillier. At least that’s how I feel.