Francois Beauchemin took a lot of heat from fans, commentators, and even writers on this site last season. But anyone who is familiar with Anaheim Ducks history knows we’ll give Beauchemin’s level of play this season a pass, in the not too distant future.
The Beginning
Beauchemin is actually the last link to Paul Kariya if you think about it. After the acrimonious departure of the original Anaheim Ducks legend, Kariya, the Ducks signed superstar Sergei Fedorov to fill the star void. Fedorov’s stay, however, was relatively brief.
He played only 85 games for Anaheim. Only five of those games were played after Henry and Susan Samueli bought the team in 2005. On November 15, 2005, Fedorov was banished to Columbus. In return, the Ducks received Tyler Wright and Beauchemin.
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Beauch was surprised by the trade. He said, “I was coming off three pretty productive seasons in the American Hockey League and I was happy that I made it to the NHL with Columbus last season when I got word of the trade. I said, ‘Wow!!’ I got traded for Sergei Fedorov!”
His arrival in Anaheim wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. He had a problem many of us can relate to on a personal level. Beauchemin explained, “Randy Carlyle told me to lose some weight or I’d be sitting in the press box. While I was sitting in the press box, I remember riding the bike and eating chicken salad for a little more than a week before I dropped 10 pounds. Then, I began getting more and more ice time.”
That first season, spent mostly with Anaheim, was the best offensive output of Beauchemin’s career with 8 goals and 28 assists for 36 points. He became a top-four defenseman that season, which no one expected. Roving superstar defenseman Scott Niedermayer was able to do his thing because Beauchemin had the defensive zone buckled down.
Beauch Brought Bite
Beauchemin stood six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. He didn’t let that size go to waste. When Beauch was on the ice, opponents had to watch out. A great example happened during his second stint with the Ducks early in the 2013-14 season. Beauchemin handed the puck over to Columbus Blue Jacket Artem Anisimov and then made him pay for it. If that doesn’t ring a bell, do you remember when Mike Fisher of the Nashville Predators met Beauchemin at center ice in 2011? What self-respecting Ducks fan, doesn’t smile at that one?
Beauchemin could also handle himself without his gloves. Although he didn’t drop the mitts that often, he was to be feared when he did. One memorable moment came shortly after he was traded to Anaheim. Beauchemin went mano y mano with notorious tough guy Jamal Mayers. He went completely crazy in doing it. He even dropped the gloves during the playoffs. Ducks Nation appreciated his beat-down of Red Wing Tomas Kopecky during their second round match-up in 2009.
Those fights were great but Beauchemin was at his best in 2006. Most Ducks fans easily remember his classic fight with Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla. It was early in the first period during Game 6 of the opening round of the playoffs. Anaheim came home from Calgary down 3-2 in the series. Just over a minute into the game, both players displayed class and removed their visored helmets before they engaged. Then Iggy learned Beauch was left handed when Beauchemin dropped Iginla with a single punch. You can consider that the precursor to Kevin Bieksa’s Superman punches. The Ducks went on to win that game 2-1. Then they went back to Calgary and shut them out 3-0 to move onto the Western Conference Semifinal.
Beauch Was Big-time for the Ducks
Hampus Lindholm seems like the Ducks’ steady rock on the blue line these days. But we should always remember it was Beauchemin who shepherded the Swedish defenseman into the league. Beauch showed him how to play tough, and how to be in the correct position at this level.
Do you want more? Remember his slap shot from the point in the clinching game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. Daniel Alfredsson had just pulled the Ottawa Senators back within one goal only 2:22 left in the second period with an amazing roof shot, short-handed goal, scored with Ryan Getzlaf draped all over him. The game had turned.
Only 50 seconds later and still on the power play, Andy McDonald drove down the left wing board and dropped the puck to an oncoming freight train with the name Beauchemin written on its back. He quickly entered the zone at full speed and clobbered the puck. 11 years later, Ray Emery is still wondering where that puck went. More importantly, that goal gave Anaheim the room they needed to relax and play the third period. No one was scoring five goals on that team in their house that night.
Beauch’s Place in Ducks History
Francois Beauchemin beat the odds. The Montreal Canadiens selected him 74th overall in the 1998 NHL entry draft. Players taken at that point in the draft have only a 27.1% chance of playing 100 games in the NHL; Beauch finished with 903. Further, based solely on his draft position, he had only a 7.5% chance of becoming a top-four defenseman; which he was for well over a decade. There still aren’t metrics to quantify heart and determination.
Francois Beauchemin will not have his jersey retired in Anaheim. But he will go down as one of the greats in franchise history. His combination of skill and toughness were essential to this team.
Next: The Anaheim Ducks can get back on track by following this blueprint.
Beauchemin was always great with the fans. He became a steadying influence over time. He even came out of retirement for Anaheim when the Ducks couldn’t patch together six NHL-ready defensemen last season. Respect isn’t given, its earned. As an Anaheim Ducks player, Beauchemin earned every ounce of respect.