If the Edmonton Oilers elect to go with an experienced blue-liner this summer, they could look to California for some help. The Anaheim Ducks have enjoyed some real success the last three seasons, but must manage the cap this summer and make some tough decisions. One of those will be D Francois Beauchemin.
Beauchemin is slated to be a free agent on July 1st, and all his effective years have come in Anaheim. He had a stint in Toronto, but it ended in a nightmare fashion. That said, when in Anaheim, Beauchemin has been a stud for the Ducks. That includes this season, where he’s helped form a great top-three group with Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm.
Why Is He Out There:
Beauchemin is 34 years old and will be looking for his last big contract as a pro player. As one of the best free agent defenders on the market this summer, he’ll likely get it too. Will Anaheim, a budget team that is paying Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf massive deals, be willing to pony up here too?
In the short-term, probably, but the Ducks need to worry about signing Lindholm, Simon Despres and Sami Vatanen next summer. That’s a lot of cash that will be invested into the blue-line. Thanks to having so many young options, the Ducks may elect to walk from Beauchemin, who they have had no talks with to this point.
What Does He Do Well:
As Lynyrd Skynyrd once said, I’m a simple kind of man. That perfectly describes the style of Beauchemin, who makes the simple, high percentage play. He’s not known as a risk taker, and is a safe bet to move the puck in the right direction while on the ice.
His defensive ability isn’t Pronger-like, but it’s good. He’s smart, and knows how to position himself to adequately defend at this level. He’s not overly physical, but he uses his stick well and positions himself well to break-up the cycle when needed.
Offensively, he possesses one of the best point shots in the NHL. His slap shot is hard, it’s accurate, and it does damage. He scored eleven goals this year with that shot, a very good total for a defender. He’s a power-play quarterback as well, and would provide the team that signs him with a cannon from the point.
His passing skills are solid as well, as he checks out with a good break-out pass and has the ability to keep the play alive. In Edmonton, puck movement from the defenders to the forwards is an issue, but Beauchemin does a very good job of getting the attackers the puck. He’d be a welcomed presence.
Francois Beauchemin is a leader, no doubting that. He’s lauded for his ability to be part of a leadership group, and he has experience in this league. He won the Stanley Cup in 2007, and has been on a many deep playoffs runs before, including this spring.
Minutes wise, he played a hefty amount this year, averaging 22:44 a game. That’s a big boy workload right there my friends.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
If Edmonton acquired Beauchemin, he’d immediately become the team’s best defender. He’s proven to be a top-pairing option on a competitive team, and proven he can handle the tough opposition and big minutes. No one on the current Oilers roster has proven any of that.
Where he should play fits right in. I view him as a top-pairing defender in this league, so the fit is pretty good here.
What Will He Cost:
As a free agent, Edmonton only needs cap space to get this done. I’ll suggest a two year deal at $4.5 million per gets it done on the open market for Beauchemin. Remember, Edmonton would be convincing him to go from a power-house Ducks team to a basement dwelling Edmonton one. That’s going to take some extra money. Like it or not, we all know that it’s true.
Closing Arguments:
If Edmonton wants to go with a veteran stop-gap option on the top-pairing, then Beauchemin might be the way to go. He’s 34, but still has some gas left in the tank. He’s proven he can handle big minutes, proven he can face tough competition, and proven he can excel in the role.
He’s a major part of one of the best teams in hockey, and he does a lot of things right. He’s a steady defender with a booming shot and solid offensive ability. What’s not to like about him?
If Beauchemin is willing to leave Anaheim (no guarantee), then the Oilers should be heavily involved in him. He could be a perfect mentor for Klefbom/Nurse/Marincin and he could help in a big way.
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