So much for Francois Beauchemin getting traded at the deadline – the veteran defenseman has signed a three-year, $10.5-million extension with the Anaheim Ducks.
Beauchemin, 31, is averaging 25:44 of ice time per game, the most of any Duck.
The hard-nosed blueliner won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, later signing a three-year deal with truculence-seeking Toronto in 2009. The Leafs traded him back to Anaheim last February in return for Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardiner.
Based on comparable contracts, Beauchemin might have been able to earn more on the open market as an unrestricted free agent, but apparently he wants to stay put.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the signing could mean Anaheim defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky is made available at the deadline. However, it should be noted that Visnovsky has a full no-trade clause until July 1, according to CapGeek.com. Update: Actually, CapGeek.com updates that a no-trade clause was on the contract “but isn’t anymore.”