Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier Expectations For 2021-2022
The 2021 season was a tale of two halves for Anthony Beauvillier. In his first 22 games of the season, he was essentially a non-factor for the New York Islanders. Beau had just two goals and six points over this span.
Over the final 25, he was phenomenal putting up 22 points and 13 goals in that span. While he is one of the streakiest players that I’ve ever seen play at the NHL level, over the past two seasons he’s settled into his role.
His 28 points in 47 games (.60 points per game) last year and 39 in 68 (.57 points per game) the year prior both put him on paces in the high 40’s for points. In the playoffs, Beauvillier took his game to another level for the second year in a row.
He finished with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 19 games played. The Islanders’ second line was particularly dominant in the Pittsburgh series, but the classic Beauvillier moment came in Game 6 of the Tampa Bay series:
Clutch. Anthony Beauvillier’s overtime goal sent the Islanders back to Tampa Bay for Game 7.
Beauvillier heads into the season on a new, three-year $12.45 million ($4.15 million AAV) contract. The anticipation is for him to play second-line left wing along with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey once again.
Anthony Beauvillier 2021-2022 expectations
Beauvillier is a streaky player, as perfectly displayed by his slow start in 2021 followed by the hot stretch run into the playoffs. Regardless, he usually tends to finish in the 45-49 point range in a full 82 game season.
Playing second-line minutes, Beauvillier should finish somewhere around 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists).
Last year, in 358:37 the line put up a 50.6 CF%, a 73.1 GF%, and a 78.6 HDGF% according to Natural Stat Trick. They were really good at creating scoring chances and goals and not letting in very many chances the other way.
I wouldn’t expect Barry Trotz to play with this line, a line that’s worked so well over the past couple of seasons in large part to the youth and intensity of Anthony Beauvillier’s game. He’s not going to win any awards for his play, and it won’t always be perfect, but over the course of a full 82 game season and a playoff run, you could use an Anthony Beauvillier in your lineup.