The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Nashville Predators on Thursday for a fifth-round draft pick in 2025. The speedy 26-year-old Beauvillier is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Beauvillier talks to reporters in December just after joining Blackhawks. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyNjM3NDg2NjE3MjczMzU2/beauvillier-on-bedard-2-capabilities.jpg] Beauvillier talks to reporters in December just after joining Blackhawks. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson picked up Beauvillier and the final year of his three-year, $12.45 million contract from Vancouver on Nov. 28 in exchange for a conditional 2024 draft pick. The deal was completed hours after Chicago cut Corey Perry for violating team policies. Beauvillier was one of four forwards the Blackhawks were believed to be shopping heading into Friday's NHL trade deadline. See story in link. FORMER FIRST-ROUND PICK HASN'T LIVED UP TO PROJECTIONS A New York Islanders first-round draft pick (28th) in 2015, the speedy but smallish Beauvillier has never consistently lived up to his projected potential. He's reached the 20-goal and 40-points marks only once each in eight seasons. Beauvillier skates against Anaheim in one of Chicago's rare wins this season. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0ODYxMTQ4NDg5NTkwMTA2/usatsi_22059957_168401008_lowres.jpg] Beauvillier skates against Anaheim in one of Chicago's rare wins this season. Beauvillier had two goals and four assists in 23 games with Chicago after posting two goals and six assists in 22 contests with Vancouver to start the season. He was out from Jan. 2 until Feb. 19 with a broken left wrist, suffered on an awkward hit by new Predators teammate Filip Forsberg in a 3-0 loss at Nashville. "He came in and was a good guy and I knew him from the Islanders," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. "He fit in really well. I thought his last game (5-2 win at Arizona on Tuesday) might have been one of his best. "He was really skating. Kind of finding his legs again after his injury." See video. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson discusses trade of forward Anthony Beauvillier to Nashville on Thursday. Beauvillier was traded to the Canucks by the Islanders with forward prospect Aatu Raty [https://www.nhl.com/player/aatu-raty-8482691] and a conditional pick in the 2023 NHL Draft for forward Bo Horvat [https://www.nhl.com/player/bo-horvat-8477500] on Jan. 30, 2023.
