Here is what you need to know about prospect Anthony Beauvillier, the 33rd-ranked North American skater, ahead of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Age on June 26: 18
Birthplace: Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Current team: Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 173 pounds
Twitter account: @titobeauvi21
NHL Central Scouting rank (North America): 33rd
Marek’s Take: Size will be the issue here, but if you’re looking for skill and production on the wing Beauvillier has it. He’s really quick out there, almost waterbug like. Can also play center and has decent faceoff acumen. Comparable: Martin St. Louis
Experience as top pick
Anthony Beauvillier is no stranger to the expectations that come with being a top draft pick. The left winger was drafted second overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2013 QMJHL Draft and, after a dominating sophomore season, now finds himself preparing for another draft.
Beauvillier shot up the draft rankings in the second half of the year and put up some big numbers.
In 67 games, he scored 42 goals and 52 assists for 94 points, which led the Cataractes and was eighth in QMJHL scoring. Beauvillier often came up clutch this season, scoring eight game-winning goals, which tied him for fourth in the league.
In seven playoff games, he had two goals and five assists as Shawinigan was ousted in the first round by the Halifax Mooseheads.
If you’re looking for a good centre in the faceoff circle, Beauvillier is your man. He had 922 wins for a 58.7 percent success rating throughout 2014-15.
A leader
Beauvillier’s status as a leader was highlighted in January during the CHL’s Top Prospects game. He was named captain for Team Cherry while the highly-touted Connor McDavid captained Team Orr. Beauvillier was held pointless in a 6-0 loss for Team Cherry and had a minus-1 rating.
“He definitely leads by example,” Dan Marr, the head of the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, told The Hockey News. “There’s an infectious attitude in the way he plays. He’s similar to Robby Fabbri last year where he’s really relentless on the puck, relentless on the play. He doesn’t quit.”
Beauvillier was an assistant for Canada at the world under-17 hockey challenge while playing for his home province of Quebec. In that tournament, he had two goals and two assists.
International experience doesn’t stop there
Beauvillier won gold for Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and earlier this year captured bronze at the under-18 world championships.
He wasn’t invited to Canada’s world junior selection camp last December, but could be someone the Canadians look to for the 2016 edition of the tournament in Finland.
All-around player
Beauvillier had time to focus on his defensive game in his first season with the Cataractes. The franchise only managed 20 wins and 49 points in 2013-14, but he learned valuable lessons.
“Last year they gave me, well, it wasn’t a defensive role but we weren’t very offensive so we really had to play well on defence,” Beauvillier told Yahoo! Sports. “I was being matched up against guys like Anthony Mantha or even Anthony Duclair and it was helpful for me.”
His stats that season told some of the story. In 64 games, he only scored 33 points, a long cry from his 94 this past season.
Family draft experience
Anthony has someone to look up to while going through the draft process. His brother, Francis, was selected by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. The two played together for part of last season in Shawinigan before Francis was dealt to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Francis explored some professional options, but chose the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in October.
Fun fact
If Beauvillier weren’t playing hockey, he would choose tennis.
