Anthony Beauvillier

Lore & Background

Beauvillier grew up in Quebec and played three seasons for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. He was selected to play in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and named to the 2014–15 QMJHL Second All-Star Team. After his junior team fell to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in Game 5 of the 2016 President's Cup Final, he turned professional with the New York Islanders organization and made his NHL debut during the 2016–17 season. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in January 2023 and later played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and Pittsburgh Penguins before joining the Washington Capitals.

Reader's Guide

Beauvillier's time with the Chicago Blackhawks was part of a broader NHL journey that saw him play for multiple teams after being drafted by the New York Islanders. His career path reflects the mobility common among NHL forwards, as he moved from the Islanders to the Canucks, then to the Blackhawks, Predators, and Penguins before landing with the Capitals. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, won a gold medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and finished 4th at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. His junior career included being named captain of the Cataractes and leading Team Cherry as captain in the Top Prospects Game.

Did You Know?

• Beauvillier was drafted second overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2013 QMJHL entry draft.
• He was a fan of the Boston Bruins, specifically Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, while growing up in Quebec.
• Beauvillier did not speak much English until he moved to Long Island to play for the New York Islanders.
• He scored his first NHL goal against a goaltender making their NHL debut, becoming the first Islander to do so.

Quebec Roots & Formative Years

Anthony Beauvillier was born on June 8, 1997, in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, and spent his formative years immersed in the francophone culture of that province. Despite his Quebec origins, the young forward developed a deep admiration for the Boston Bruins, particularly following the careers of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. His early hockey journey began with the Montreal Canadiens' minor ice hockey program, where he competed in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He then moved to the Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois in the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League, where he played until 2013. That final season proved transformative: Beauvillier led the entire league in scoring with 39 goals across 41 games and was awarded the league's MVP honour. His dominance earned him the second overall selection in the 2013 QMJHL entry draft, where the Shawinigan Cataractes claimed him. Speaking primarily French throughout his youth, Beauvillier did not become comfortable in English until he relocated to Long Island to join the New York Islanders organization.

QMJHL Breakout & the 2015 Draft

Beauvillier's three-year tenure with the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL showcased a remarkable arc of development. His rookie campaign in 2013–14 began painfully, as the Cataractes fell to a 0–6–1 start through seven games, making them the only club in the league without a win at that point. Beauvillier scored his first major junior goal in a 4–1 loss to the Gatineau Olympiques on September 28, 2013, and finished the season with 33 points in 64 games as Shawinigan clawed their way into the playoffs. The 2014–15 season marked his true breakout: he erupted for 42 goals and 52 assists, earning a spot on the QMJHL Second All-Star Team and a selection to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, where he captained Team Cherry. He also recorded his 100th career QMJHL point during the league's inaugural Winter Classic. Central Scouting ranked him 33rd among North American prospects, and the New York Islanders selected him 28th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft. Beauvillier then assumed the captaincy of the Cataractes for his final junior year.

A Peripatetic NHL Journey

Beauvillier's professional journey in the NHL has been defined by movement and adaptability. After the 2016 President's Cup Final ended in a Game 5 loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, he turned professional with the New York Islanders organization and made his NHL debut during the 2016–17 season. He had signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on October 23, 2015, while still completing his junior career. His time in New York lasted several seasons before a January 2023 trade sent him to the Vancouver Canucks, where he spent portions of two seasons. From Vancouver, his path continued through the Chicago Blackhawks, the Nashville Predators, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, reflecting a career marked by multiple organizational changes. He is currently a forward for the Washington Capitals. This peripatetic route—touching six different NHL franchises over the course of his professional career—has made Beauvillier a player who has experienced a wide cross-section of league cultures, systems, and competitive environments.

Representing Canada on the World Stage

Beyond his club career, Beauvillier has represented Canada at both the junior and senior international levels, earning recognition on some of the sport's most prestigious stages. His international résumé includes a gold medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, a prestigious junior competition that serves as a proving ground for emerging talent. He was subsequently named to Team Canada's roster for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, a tournament in which he played alongside fellow Islanders prospect Mathew Barzal. At the senior level, Beauvillier suited up for Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where the national team finished in fourth place. His selection to these rosters came as a direct result of his standout play in the QMJHL, particularly his 79-point campaign in 2015–16 that drew the attention of Team Canada's coaching staff. Representing his country across multiple age groups and competitive tiers underscores the breadth of his development and the trust placed in him by Canadian hockey's national programs.

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