Tito's Puente: Islanders sign Anthony Beauvillier to entry-level contract

Back in June, the Islanders made a splash at the NHL Entry Draft, moving into the first round to draft not only Mathew Barzal at no. 16 but also Anthony Beauvillier at No. 28.

Today, Beauviller joined Barzal again as official Islanders property, signing his own three-year entry level contract about a month and a half after Barzal signed his.

Beauviller, who captains the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, has seven goals and eight assists in seven games this season. He had a whopper of a game against Rouyn-Noranda on October 10th, scoring three goals and two assists. He has already been selected to join Team QMJHL in the CHL's Canada-Russia Super Series set for this month.

The diminutive (read: of normal human size for an adult male) 5'-11" Beauvillier impressed at Islanders training camp this year by throwing the body around, and not backing down to larger veterans.

"He plays big," head coach Jack Capuano said. "For me tough is taking a hit to make a play, winning your battles in those small areas of the ice and he's done that. He's a gritty guy, he goes to the dirty areas."

The kid still has a lot of developing to do, but he's definitely starting off on the right foot with his game, his attitude and his salsa-tastic Twitter handle: @titobeauvi21.

He's going to be fun player to watch cross the bridge (or, puente in Spanish) to the pros.