Islanders Trade for 28th Pick in 2015 NHL Draft, Select Anthony Beauvillier

The New York Islander already dealt Griffin Reinhart for the 16th overall pick at the 2015 NHL Draft, but they weren't done there. Later in that first round, they acquired the 28th overall pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 33rd overall pick (acquired earlier from the Oilers in that Reinhart trade) and their own third-round (72nd overall) pick.

With the selection, the Islanders drafted "versatile" left wing Anthony Beauvillier from Shawinigan of the QMJHL. Immediately after the selection, Craig Button said he "loved" the versatile Beauvillier, while Pierre Maguire said he had "a little bit of Guy Carbonneau, a little bit of Patrice Bergeron" in him.

The Islanders entered the draft without a first or second round pick after the Thomas Vanek trade. They cleaned that situation up right quick, finishing the night with two fresh picks from the first round and basically only losing Reinhart, who was part of a deep defensemen pipeline.

Beauvillier is smallish (5'10, 181 lbs.) but very skilled, with 94 points (42 goals) in 67 games for Shawinigan in 2014-15, plus three more goals in six games at the U18 championship for Canada. There is some promise here given his gaudy production with a rotating cast of non-elite linemates.

McKeen's Hockey:

Beauvillier uses strong puck-handling skills and a strong, low centre of gravity stride to beat his opponents, either coming off the left wing or down the middle. Timashov uses equally impressive speed to create chances off the rush, unafraid to hang onto the puck until an opportunity presents itself or stop up and find a seam through the middle of the ice.

Elite Prospects on Beauvillier:

A dynamic scoring center with good hockey sense. Not very large in stature, but makes up for it in speed, skill, and cunning. A talented puck-handler with good hands: is equally efficient a passer as he is a goal scorer. All-in-all, an offensively minded center that can outplay the opposition in a number of different ways. Needs to work on discipline and getting stronger. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)

Here is ESPN's Corey Pronman briefly on Beauvillier:

NYI select Beauvillier (my rank: 21) small but very productive season. Skates and handles puck well, good shot, and plays at both ends.

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 27, 2015

And here's that nice fresh draft smile:

pic.twitter.com/i3QSZGbKAf

— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) June 27, 2015