Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Best players to wear numbers 24-21

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 6: Francois Beauchemin #23 of the Anaheim Ducks salutes the crowd after his final career regular season home game, a 5-3 defeat of the Dallas Stars, in the game at Honda Center on April 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 6: Francois Beauchemin #23 of the Anaheim Ducks salutes the crowd after his final career regular season home game, a 5-3 defeat of the Dallas Stars, in the game at Honda Center on April 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA: Kevin Labanc #62 of the San Jose Sharks loses his helmet after a hit by Francois Beauchemin #23 of the Anaheim Ducks in Game Two of the 2018 Western Conference First Round on April 14, 2018. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#23 Francois Beauchemin

Beauch had three separate tours for the Ducks totaling to 10 total years in SoCal. His most recognizable stint was of 2005-2008 where he is often forgotten but was a member of the Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup title team. Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger rightly get all the headlines. After the Hall-of-Famers, Francois Beauchemin was easily the third defenseman. His physical play and booming shot were key for the Ducks.

He would return from 2010-2016 and then for 2017-2018 before he called it a career at the end of this last season. Unfortunately for #23, the NHL is a speed game now and I don’t think you’ll find anyone that would call Beauchemin fleet of foot. This fact, as well as Beauchemin’s stellar play from young players, such as Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm, drastically decreased his role.

His overall influence can’t be overlooked. He had a hand in teaching the young defensemen and allowing them to get their feet wet in this league. Beauch was the steadying force that allowed the young guys to have the space they needed to be at their most dangerous.

This season we may fully see the fruits of that labor. If the Ducks turn the keys over to Fowler and Lindholm, Beauchemin’s presence will be felt for years to come.

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