The 2024 trade deadline has been hectic, and winger Anthony Beauvillier’s name is now a part of the mix. On Thursday, the Nashville Predators acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks. In exchange, the Blackhawks received a 2024 fifth-round draft pick from Nashville. Beauvillier, a 2015 first-round pick, is set to play for the fourth team of his career on the expiring legs of a three-year contract.
What Anthony Beauvillier Adds to the Predators
One of the most valuable parts about Beauvillier’s game is that he is comfortable playing on the left wing and the right wing. It helps that the 26-year-old had four consecutive 15-goal seasons between 2017 and 2021. He can be slotted on either side of any line, along with scoring upside.
Anthony Beauvillier started the season with Vancouver, leaving the Canucks with a +8 plus/minus. His 23-game stint with the struggling Chicago Blackhawks was rougher in that regard (-10), but not many skaters are succeeding in the Windy City these days. One could look at Beauvillier’s stats, only four goals and 10 assists, and get discouraged. However, a career-low shooting percentage of 5.5% suggests that there may be positive regression in his future.
The Nashville Predators Have Surged Lately
Nashville spent most of this season middling but finally broke out at the end of February. Their eight-game winning streak may have ended on Tuesday with multiple blown leads, but the Predators still have a nine-game point streak intact. They’ve gained serious separation in the Western Conference wild-card race with 19 games remaining on their schedule.
The Preds are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings with 73 points. While one of those teams will finish third in the Pacific Division (barring an epic collapse), the other is a direct competitor with Nashville for the top wild-card spot. This team, which is now 35-25-3, is in a position to avoid the Western Conference’s top team, something that seemed unfathomable less than a month ago.
Now, reinforcements are on the way to help the Predators’ probable postseason appearance become a memorable one. Let’s see what Anthony Beauvillier brings to Tennessee.
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