Hours after Kyle Davidson updated the media on the termination of Corey Perry’s contract, the Blackhawks GM made a move to replace some of the offense the team would miss in the departed winger’s absence. The Blackhawks are acquiring Vancouver winger Anthony Beauvillier in exchange for a conditional 2024 fifth-round draft pick.

Beauvillier, 26, has eight points in 22 games played with Vancouver this season, and 237 points over 512 NHL games. He was drafted 28th overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, and carries a $4.15 million cap hit that expires after this season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Canucks are not expected to retain any of Beauvillier’s salary.

With Perry gone, and Taylor Hall out for the season, it would have been negligent for Davidson to leave all of the offensive burden on Connor Bedard, Lukas Reichel and Philipp Kurashev. The addition of Beauvillier gives head coach Luke Richardson both roster flexibility and scoring depth…two things he badly needed with the loss of two of his top forwards.