During a game with the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier was injured. The Islanders’ forward exited the game at 6:30 in the second period after colliding with Devils forward Nathan Bastian. The timetable for Beauvillier’s return is still up in the air. Having said that, a sooner return is more likely than later, given his day-to-day status.
#Isles update: Beauvillier is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 25, 2021
Anthony Beauvillier and His Progress So Far
Beauvillier has had a slow start to the season, scoring just one assist in five games with the Islanders. In 291 games with the Islanders, the Canadian native has scored 128 points. Last season, Beauvillier scored 18 goals and 39 points in just 61 games with the Islanders. He’s shown an immense amount of promise playing on the team’s top-six and will likely serve as a scoring threat for the Islanders for years to come.
His most notable feat came during the 2019-20 NHL playoffs, where he scored nine goals and 14 points in the Islanders’ playoff run. Beauvillier is a pending restricted free agent at the end of the 2021 season. This season is his chance to showcase the height of his talent. His skill, coupled with his past playoff performance, makes him a top choice for a sizable contract extension.
What This Means for the Islanders
Losing Beauvillier will be a huge blow for the Islanders’ offence. The 23-year-old played primarily on the team’s second line. If the Islanders choose to use their taxi squad, they can test the waters with players like Oliver Wahlstrom to see if they’re NHL ready. Without the taxi squad, they will need to rely on their veterans like Michael Dal Colle and Cal Clutterbuck. This puts head coach Barry Trotz in a bind. He will need to either take a gamble on young talent or risk stymying his offence with a veteran used to a bottom-six role. Trotz’s decision will ultimately depend on how fast Beauvillier recovers.
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