Player Review: Francois Beauchemin

Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Victor Cabrera

The Anaheim Ducks’ veteran defenseman Francois Beauchemin decided to hang up the skates at the end of this season at the age of 37. Beauchemin had played with Anaheim on three separate occasions throughout his career. His most memorable was the 2006-2007 season in which the team won the Stanley Cup. Alongside Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf they were the only players currently on the roster from the championship team.

Beauchemin signed during the offseason on a one year deal following two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. His arrival was questionable as to why management would sign such a veteran player. However, he was not a full-time player as he played 67 games this season. He did play in all four playoff games with Bieksa being out due to a late season injury in his hand that required surgery. With Anaheim being in such a defensive struggle more and more fans questioned why Beauchemin came back. His age was a big factor as he was clearly not as fast as before and just was not the player Anaheim once had. Now to break down the last season of his career.

Francois Beauchemin played 67 games scoring 3 goals, 14 assists, and a +/- of 12. Beauchemin throughout his career was never a big point scorer his highest was 28 points during the Stanley Cup winning season. This season his age showed and with the team having issues on the blue line it became a recurring theme of needed better defensemen. We didn’t get the good old Beauchemin and that called for a lot of anger which is understandable. The good side of his signing was that he wasn’t playing every night but he played a lot maybe more than imagined, although it wasn’t what had been imagined by management.

I give Francois Beauchemin a grade of a C- because in a better season overall as a team his games would have been cut by half. With all the team faced Beauchemin was probably the most reliable choice although maybe not the best Randy Carlyle knew him well which is why he played the games he did. Overall his season could have been much better but the team faced its issues and he laced up his skates for most of the season and now for the last time in his career.

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May 5th, 2018