Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier Takes It To Another Level In Playoffs

Anthony Beauvillier for the second year in a row has taken his game to another level in the playoffs. Through now five years in his NHL career, he is an absolute enigma. At times during the regular season he goes on unbelievable stretches for the Islanders.

For example, the back half of the 2017-2018 season was one of those times. A strong push the rest of the way led to a 21 goal season for Beau. But then at other times he’s just completely missing in action.

This was fairly evident for most of the 2018-2019 season that saw Beauvillier have just 28 points. Consistency at this level is something that Beau now at age 23 has yet to figure out.

With all of this in mind, we now have a two-year sample size of Beauvillier being a dominant player in the playoffs. Through eight games this year he has four goals and nine points and in 22 last year, he was able to net 9 goals.

Looking at what the second line has meant to this team over the last two years in the playoffs it’s hard not to love what he does when the calendar flips to the postseason. He’s very evidently a different guy.

The confusing part becomes what does he get paid on his next contract? He’ll be coming off of a two-year $4.2 million ($2.1 million AAV) bridge deal.

Do you pay him based on what he can do in the playoffs? Over his last 30 playoff games over the past two seasons, he has 13 goals and 23 points. Or, does he get paid on being a career .47 points per game player ( a 38 point pace over a full season).

When looking at recent contracts, two come to mind. Scott Laughton’s five-year $15 million ($3 million AAV) deal and Tanner Pearson’s three-year $9.75 million ($3.25 million AAV) deal.

Here’s how the three compare:

AGE: Beauvillier (23), Laughton (26), Pearson (28)

Career PPG: Beauvillier (.47), Laughton (.34), Pearson (.46)

2021 Goals/60: Beauvillier (0.94), Laughton (.52), Pearson (.62)

2021 S%: Beauvillier (13.8%), Laughton (10.1%). Pearson (9.1%)

You’d have to imagine that Beauvillier would likely get a tad more than both of those guys. The years is tough to gauge because Lou Lamoriello has gone with the bridge deal a handful of times but the AAV I’d imagine will be in the $3.5 million range.

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Regular season consistency may have put him in that $4 million+ range but the Isles may luck out here getting a solid middle-six forward for under $4 million a year. In this tight-cap world, the Isles will gladly take that.