The Colorado Avalanche have signed veteran defenseman François Beauchemin to a three-year deal with a $4.5 million cap hit, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Beauchemin, 35, did not re-sign with Anaheim; the Ducks essentially filled his spot by trading for Kevin Bieksa.
In Colorado, the hope will be that Beauchemin can provide a steadying presence on a team that struggled defensively last season.
At 35 years old, Beauchemin is no youngster. However, he still managed to average 22:45 of ice time in 2014-15.
“He’s the voice,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said of Beauchemin during the playoffs. “Everybody else is so young. [He] is the voice back there. You can hear him talking all the time.”