Anthony Beauvillier, Nashville Predators
There is always that one player in free agency who you think could thrive off of a fresh start, and I’m not talking about two trades that player was part of in a single season here. Instead, someone like Anthony Beauvillier could use a fresh start and a full season, as doing so means he may return to the serviceable player he was and one who received top and middle-six minutes.
Between 2017-18 and 2022-23, Beauvillier put up 18 or more goals in a season four different times, he was rather physical, and he also put up a solid 20 game-winning goals in that span. The 2023-24 season saw Beauvillier as a player at crossroads, in which he finished the year with 17 points and five goals in 60 contests, and there wasn’t a single area of his game that was enticing.
While landing with the right team could turn around Beauvillier’s fortunes, he is, like Viktor Arvidsson, too much of a risk for the Red Wings this season. Steve Yzerman must sign surefire forwards, and there is nothing certain about a player who, even following his age-26 season, could already be seeing his career jet south.
If Yzerman were to take a chance on a high-risk forward in free agency between Beauvillier and Arvidsson, he would be better off with the latter. But ideally, Yzerman would roll with someone at a reasonable price who can stay healthy and add another layer of production.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)