Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier 2021 Season Grade

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 24: Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 24, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 24: Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 24, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

It’s been five years in the NHL for Anthony Beauvilier, and it seems like we have finally figured out the Islanders forward. Through the early parts of his career, Isles fans have tried to pinpoint what kind of player he is.

See, through some stretches of the season, he looks like a bonified stud and top-line talent, especially in the playoffs. But then at other times, he’ll go 12 games in a row without a goal.

Anthony Beauvillier is an enigma. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this is just what he is. He’s not someone who is going to put up 60 points in a season (even though he looks like he can at times) and he’s not going to be a 20 point third-liner (even though he looks like he can be at times).

He will fall somewhere around 40-45 despite looking like both of those descriptions I just laid out. This year was the perfect example of that.

In his first 22 games, Beau had just six points (2 goals, 4 assists). Two goals through 22 games is just not nearly enough. That’s a pace of just 22 points over a regular season. But then, from March 20 onward he was unbelievable.

Over the final 25 games, he had 22 points (13 goals, 9 assists). Now that is a pace of 72 points over a full season. How in the world can this be the same guy in nearly identical sample sizes at different points in the season?

Luckily, Beau was fairly productive in the playoffs again. He had nine points through the team’s first eight games and then went ice cold. He went 10 games in a row without scoring a goal, but of course, when he did score it was the biggest goal of the season.

This goal forced a Game 7 and it’ll be remembered as the final goal for the Islanders in Nassau Coliseum. What a moment for Beau and the Islanders.

But how does one go about grading Anthony Beauvillier? He’s so streaky at times this is an F season and other times it’s an A+ season. I think I find myself in the B range, but with the Game 6 heroics, I think that bumps him up as well.

Good luck to Lou Lamoriello trying to figure out what to pay this guy and how long. I haven’t the slightest clue where his new contract is going to come in at.

Final Grade: B+

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