Anthony Beauvillier, like the rest of Pittsburgh, is a fan of Marc-Andre Fleury.

The newly recruited Penguins forward, Beauvillier, hails from the same hometown as the prospective Hall of Fame goaltender – Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. He confessed, “Being a Penguins fan was just second nature to me growing up.” He recollected that the first NHL game he attended as a fan was a playoff face-off between Pittsburgh and Montreal.

“I distinctly recall rooting for them, particularly hoping for Marc to excel. As a role model and idol during my formative years, he had a significant impact on me. Hence, I always kept a close eye on the Penguins.”

Beauvillier was drafted by the Islanders in the first round in 2015, 12 years after Fleury was selected first overall by Pittsburgh. He spent the initial seven seasons of his career playing in the same division. Beauvillier believes that this familiarity will aid in his transition to his new team this season.

“The 27-year-old expressed, ‘Being more familiar with the rinks and the division, along with understanding the travel, is going to be highly beneficial. Naturally, hailing from the East Coast myself, being closer to home and everything else… I believe the transition will be somewhat smoother.'”

Compared to the previous season, this might seem relatively easy. Beauvillier kicked off the season in Vancouver, following his stint with the Canucks during the 2022-23 season. After participating in 22 games, he was traded to the Blackhawks. Following 23 games with Chicago, Beauvillier was traded once more, this time to Nashville, at the deadline.

“Clearly, this season was challenging for me, particularly on a mental level,” Beauvillier admitted, a wry grin on his face. “Adjusting to different systems, acclimating to new dressing rooms and teammates was difficult. Familiarizing myself with various cities and finding comfort in each was no simple task.”

“However, I believe I gained a significant amount of knowledge last season, primarily to get accustomed to various groups. Clearly, I am now in search of more stability, and I am confident that by joining the Penguins, it will be beneficial for me.”

Kyle Dubas, Penguins President of Hockey Operations and GM, stated their intention to position Beauvillier for success as he heads to this fall’s training camp, aiming to regain his game’s momentum.

“Dubas expressed on the first day of free agency that despite the recent difficulties he has faced, the player who has consistently improved since his draft year and played effectively for the Islanders is still present. He doesn’t believe the last period has been particularly successful for him in any way, but this becomes clearer upon closely observing the film,” Dubas said.

“We simply need to create the right environment for him to demonstrate his abilities again. I believe he was ready to take a risk on himself by accepting a relatively small one-year contract in return for the chance to join us and strive for a position in the lineup.”

Beauvillier expressed that Pittsburgh should match his playstyle well. He is noted for his speed and instinct, which led him to score double-digit goals consistently for five seasons, even reaching a career-high of 21 in the 2017-18 season. Aside from this, Beauvillier demonstrates versatility, having the ability to play on either wing and even taking on the center position in a few games the previous season.

Dubas was impressed by the unique questions Beauvillier asked before deciding to sign here, stating they were not typical of the queries usually posed by younger, offensive-minded players.

“Dubas said, ‘We’re seeing a shift in his mindset, particularly in terms of penalty kills and defensive zone starts. Our hope is that he will bring the same speed, tenacity, and forecheck that he demonstrated with the Islanders. Additionally, we’re hoping he’ll contribute to our secondary offense and give Mike Sullivan and the rest of the coaching staff the flexibility to adjust the lineup as needed.”

“We can initiate his role here and if it is successful, given his young age, we are optimistic that ideally, he could evolve into a long-term asset for us. He is a person of high quality and is highly regarded by his peers within this organization. Hence, we are thrilled to welcome him aboard.”