Anthony Beauvillier will be back in DC for the 2024-25 season, signing a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals on Thursday as an unrestricted free agent.
The Capitals first acquired the 28-year-old winger in a deadline-day deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins this spring. Originally brought in as a depth option, Beauvillier became a significant contributor during his months in Washington, adding both scoring talent and much-needed speed to the Caps’ lineup.
After a short but successful tenure with the Capitals this spring, Beauvillier expressed a desire to stay in DC long-term, telling reporters that he’d “love to play here for a long time.” General manager Chris Patrick, however, appeared more reticent to bring Beauvillier back, citing the rising salary cap increasing player’s salary expectations.
“I think a lot of players are looking for significant raises because they see the cap going up,” he said of the team’s free agents on Saturday. “They have cap guidance for the next three years. So, we’ll continue to talk and see if things make sense economically for us. And if they don’t, we’ll have to go a different direction, keeping in mind also we’ve got some young players knocking on the door too that need opportunity.”
The decision to re-sign Beauvillier comes after the Capitals’ failed attempt to acquire Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency, with Ehlers instead opting to sign a six-year, $51 million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
In 2024-25, Beauvillier recorded five points (2g, 3a) in 18 regular-season games for the Caps, but he was at his best during the team’s two-round playoff run. He played mostly on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, and his six playoff points (2g, 4a) — including five points in five games against the Montreal Canadiens — ranked third on the team.
“I think he has a knack for playing well in those big games,” Strome said of Beauvillier’s playoff success. “He’s played in a lot of playoff games in his career. I think he’s a smart player, but I also think he has the offensive instincts to buckle down when we need to make a play or vice versa when we need to make a defensive play. Great guy to have on your line.”
Though he proved plenty capable of playing opposite Ovechkin, Beauvillier also spent nearly 100 minutes of five-on-five ice time during the regular season skating with Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime on the Capitals’ fourth line. Head coach Spencer Carbery praised Beauvillier’s ability to slot in up and down the lineup.
“When you get around him, obviously he has a great skill set, and all that stuff I’ve talked about – his versatility through the lineup, first line, fourth line, can fit in Swiss Army knife type player,” Carbery said.
Beauvillier became the Capitals’ only unrestricted free agent to re-sign with the team this summer: Lars Eller signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators, Andrew Mangiapane signed a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, Taylor Raddysh signed a two-year deal with the New York Rangers, and Alex Alexeyev signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Capitals opted not to tender him a qualifying offer.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Re-Sign Anthony Beauvillier
28-year-old forward recorded 25 points (15g, 10a) in 81 games with Washington and Pittsburgh in 2024-25
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Anthony Beauvillier to a two-year, $5.5 million contract extension, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Beauvillier’s contract will carry an average annual value of $2.75 million.
Beauvillier, 29, recorded 25 points (15g, 10a) in 81 games with the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024-25. Beauvillier, who was acquired by Washington on March 7, recorded five points (2g, 3a) in 18 regular-season games with the Capitals, all of which came at five-on-five. From his Capitals debut on March 9 to the end of the regular season, Beauvillier ranked third on the team in hits (31), fourth in plus-minus (+3) and seventh in shots (29). The 5’11”, 180-pound forward also added six points (2g, 4a) in 10 playoff games with Washington. At the time of his trade on March 7, Beauvillier ranked second on Pittsburgh in hits (108), third in five-on-five goals (12) and fifth in goals.
Beauvillier was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round (28th overall) of the 2015 Draft. In 631 career NHL games with the Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Capitals, Beauvillier has recorded 271 points (131g, 140a). In addition, Beauvillier has tallied 37 points (18g, 19a) in 65 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Sorel-Tracy, Quebec native scored a career-high 21 goals in 2017-18 with the Islanders and compiled a career-best 40 points (18g, 22a) in 82 games during the 2022-23 season with New York and Vancouver. Beauvillier has scored 15 or more goals in six of his nine completed NHL seasons.
Internationally, Beauvillier has represented Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championships, the 2016 World Junior Championship and the 2015 Under-18 World Championship. Beauvillier also won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Beauvillier played three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Shawinigan Cataractes from 2013-16, amassing 206 points (91g, 115a) in 178 games. During the 2014-15 season with Shawinigan, Beauvillier was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team after tallying a team-leading 94 points (42g, 52a) in 67 games.
