Vancouver Canucks trade Anthony Beauvillier to Chicago Blackhawks

The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Per Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team, the Canucks are getting a fifth-round pick back in return and did not retain any salary in the deal.

Beauvillier, 26, had collected just two goals and eight points in 22 games with the Canucks to start the 2023–24 season. The Sorel-Tracy, Quebec product is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer upon the conclusion of the three-year, $4.15 million AAV contract he signed with the New York Islanders back in 2021.

We’ll have more coverage of the trade in the coming hours and days, but at its core, the deal seems like a good one for Vancouver. Beauvillier struggled to find a regular spot in the Canucks’ lineup this season after coming over from the Islanders as part of the return the Canucks got when they traded former captain Bo Horvat.

In 33 games with the Canucks to close out the 2022–23 season, Beauvillier racked up nine goals and 20 points, bringing his totals for the year up to 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games. He now joins a Chicago team in need of help on the wings after Taylor Hall’s season-ending injury and Corey Perry’s dismissal.

The move gives the Canucks much-needed cap space flexibility, as they are now in a prime position to sign Ethan Bear to a contract, as the 26-year-old defenceman the Canucks traded for last season continues to progress in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. According to Dhaliwal, multiple teams are in on Bear, and his decision is still 2-3 weeks away.