Penguins Update: Is Anthony Beauvillier the New Dominik Simon?

Anthony Beauvillier…is an offensive depth winger. His value comes from creating scoring chances for himself, with the main issue being that he has a lot of problems putting them into the net.

That’s how JFresh described the former first-round pick when he signed with the Penguins this summer.

Hmmmm.

Sounds an awful lot like a couple of players from our not-too-distant past, doesn’t it?

Dominik Simon skated fast, created scoring chances and drove offense (at least according to Corsi), but couldn’t finish. Through no real fault of his own, he became one of the most polarizing players in franchise history.

Jansen Harkins skated fast and…well…hustled. No need to hammer home his dearth of scoring.

Back to the present. Through three preseason games, spent pretty much stapled to Sidney Crosby’s hip, Anthony Beauvillier unleashed an impressive 11 shots on goal while compiling a stunning 64.94 Corsi and some outstanding underlying numbers.

Pretty much did everything but register on the scoresheet.

Again, sounds awfully familiar (cough…Simon).

We all have our fatal attractions…someone or something we just can’t resist. (I’m particularly fond of Reese’s Cups.) For Pens coach Mike Sullivan, it’s a Simon-Beauvillier type of player. He loves guys who fly around the ice and hustle and retrieve pucks, hey, those are important qualities to possess.

However, you also want a little meat with your potatoes, a hot sausage on your bun.

In hockey terms, goals and assists.

The jury’s still out on whether or not Beauvillier can provide that. Through his first seven seasons, the former Islanders mainstay averaged nearly 19 goals per 82-game slate while skating primarily in a top-six role.

Certainly solid production.

Last season he fell off a cliff, plummeting to just five goals in 60 games while bouncing from the Canucks to the Blackhawks and on to the Predators at the deadline. While embarking on a three-city tour in a little over three months must’ve been unsettling to say the least, the fact that he’s been on the move so much of late has to raise some red flags.

Another worrisome thread? His shooting percentage, once consistently in the low-to-mid teens, has sagged over the past few seasons to a rock-bottom low of 4.8 in 2023-24.

The good news? Beauvillier’s signed to a one-year prove-it deal, so we’re not tied to him long term should things not work out. He’s only 27, so he’s still in his prime. And, judging by the hop he’s displayed in training camp and preseason, the Quebec native seems determined to seize the opportunity and resurrect his career with the black and gold.

The bad news? Like the sailors and ships of lore lured into the rocky shore by the siren’s song, Sullivan may not be able to resist playing Beauvillier on Crosby’s line, even if the numbers aren’t there. In the process usurping a coveted slot that might be better filled by last season’s port side resident, Drew O’Connor, or uber-promising prospect Rutger McGroarty.

Sometimes you’re better off not putting players of a certain ilk in a coach’s tool kit. Let’s hope Kyle Dubas doesn’t learn that lesson the hard way.

Movin’ On

The Pens lost defenseman John Ludvig, who was claimed off waivers by the Avalanche yesterday.

I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I loved the kid’s aggressiveness and willingness to drop the gloves, even when physically overmatched. However, the naked truth is, he struggled mightily during his rookie season.

Perhaps in a very sheltered role, Ludvig’s an NHL defenseman. Anyway…hope he makes it.

On the flip side, Sam Poulin wasn’t claimed and joined the Baby Pens. While I like the type of player Sam is, I don’t think he fits Sullivan’s system. Nor do I think he’s going to get an opportunity here unless we jettison a bunch of veterans. Unlikely, barring a total meltdown.

Goalies Filip Larsson and Taylor Gauthier were assigned to Wilkes as well.