Hopeful Ducks Re-sign Francois Beauchemin

By Steve Palumbo (@StevePalumboNHL)

The Anaheim Ducks continue to operate like a club preparing for a long playoff run. Instead of trading away impending unrestricted free-agent Francois Beauchemin, the Ducks re-upped the dependable blue liner for three more years.

Beauchemin’s new deal has him signed through the 2014-15 season and will pay him $3.5 million each year. A discounted rate over the $3.65 million he’s earning this season.

Through 45 games, Beauchemin is sixth in team scoring with 18 points. He’s also a plus-1 on a hockey club that’s been outscored 140-118. He’s been especially effective over the last six games, picking up seven points during the span.

Left for dead two weeks ago the Ducks are as alive as reanimated corpses in a cheesy horror flick. Head coach Bruce Beaudreau finally broke through to his players and has the team believing in themselves.

The refocused club has crept out of the Western Conference cellar. But even with a 6-0-1 surge, Anaheim still trails eighth place Colorado by 13 points. If there is a silver lining it’s that Anaheim has three games in hand.

It’s quite evident that general manager Bob Murray hasn’t counted his team out yet. The signing of Beauchemin reaffirms Murray’s belief that he has the right players on the current roster.

“Francois is a dedicated, versatile and hard-working defenseman who is committed to our organization,” Murray beamed.

The 31 year-old was a vital piece of the Anaheim squad that hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2007. His four goals were crucial to the Ducks playoff run. In fact many believe without Beauchemin the Ducks wouldn’t have won that Cup.

After publicly blasting his team for a lack of effort, Murray seems to be holding out hope that his team can somehow, someway find a way to squeeze into the post season. The reality is it will take a small miracle to even have a chance to sniff the playoffs. The Ducks have a mere 37 games to try and do so.

In the final 37 games of the 2010-11 season Anaheim posted a 25-12-0 record. If they duplicate their record from a year ago they would finish with 89 points. A year ago, the eighth seeded Chicago Blackhawks finished with 97 points. That would require the Ducks to post a .784 winning percentage or a 29-8-0 record. That’s virtually unthinkable.

Beauchemin and the Ducks continue the playoff push on Saturday when the red hot Ottawa Senators visit the Honda Center.