François Beauchemin

Lore & Background

Beauchemin played major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons, helping Acadie-Bathurst to a President's Cup in 1999. He turned professional in 2000–01 with the Montreal Canadiens' American Hockey League affiliate, the Quebec Citadelles. After brief stints with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, he was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on November 15, 2005, along with Tyler Wright, in exchange for Sergei Fedorov. He made his Ducks debut on November 18, 2005, and scored his first NHL goal on December 6, 2005. He emerged as a top-four defenceman, finishing fourth among rookie defencemen in scoring with 34 points in 61 games after the trade.

Beauchemin helped Anaheim win the Stanley Cup in 2007, contributing four goals and four assists in the playoffs. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on November 14, 2008, but returned for the 2009 playoffs. After signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2009, he was traded back to Anaheim on February 9, 2011, in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner, and a conditional draft pick. In his second stint with the Ducks, he led the NHL in short-handed ice time in 2011–12 and set a franchise record with nine blocked shots in a game. He finished fourth in James Norris Memorial Trophy voting in 2013 and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team. He left the Ducks as the franchise's second all-time leading scorer among defencemen in goals, assists, and points.

Reader's Guide

François Beauchemin's significance lies in his steady, two-way defensive play over a long NHL career, most notably with the Anaheim Ducks. He was a key contributor to the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship, providing reliable minutes and playoff production. After a mid-season trade in 2005, he immediately solidified the Ducks' blue line and became a top-four fixture. His return to Anaheim in 2011 further cemented his legacy; he led the team in ice time, set a franchise record for blocked shots in a game, and led the NHL in short-handed ice time in 2011–12. His 2013 season was particularly notable: he finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting, won The Hockey News' Rod Langway Award as Best Defensive Defenceman, and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team. He also became the Ducks' franchise leader in playoff goals by a defenceman, surpassing Scott Niedermayer. Beauchemin's durability and consistency are reflected in his 800-plus NHL games and his selection as the Ducks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2014. He left the Ducks second among all defencemen in franchise history in goals, assists, and points, and tied with Ryan Getzlaf for most playoff games played for the Ducks (97).

Did You Know?

• Beauchemin was drafted 75th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1998.
• He won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
• He led the NHL in short-handed ice time during the 2011–12 season.

Junior Years and the Road to the Draft

Born on June 4, 1980, Joseph Jean-François Vinet Beauchemin spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before entering the NHL draft. Playing for the Laval Titan Collège Français, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and the Moncton Wildcats, he steadily built his reputation as a developing defenceman. In his draft year, he tallied 47 points across 70 games with Laval, a mark that caught the attention of NHL scouts. The Montreal Canadiens selected him in the third round, 75th overall, in the 1998 NHL entry draft. Rather than jumping straight into professional hockey, Beauchemin returned to the QMJHL for two additional seasons. That choice proved worthwhile: with Acadie-Bathurst, he helped the team capture the President's Cup in 1999, claiming the QMJHL championship and capping off a productive junior career before turning professional.

A Long and Winding Path to the NHL

Beauchemin's journey to consistent NHL play was anything but straightforward. After signing an entry-level deal with Montreal, he spent the 2000–01 season developing with the Quebec Citadelles in the AHL, posting three goals and nine points in 56 games. A stagnant 2001–02 campaign saw him briefly loaned to the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves. His breakthrough arrived in 2002–03 with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he scored 28 points in 75 games and helped the club reach the Calder Cup finals before falling in a Game 7 to Houston. He made his NHL debut on February 27, 2003, against Minnesota, but that single appearance would be his only game with Montreal that season. In 2003–04 he again found himself in the AHL, improving to a career-best 36 points. Placed on waivers in September 2004, he was claimed by Columbus, only to spend the lockout-shortened 2004–05 year with Syracuse. His first real NHL opportunity arrived in 2005–06, but just 11 games later he was traded to Anaheim.

Breakout in Anaheim and the Stanley Cup

The trade to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on November 15, 2005, proved transformative. Beauchemin made his debut against Colorado three days later and scored his first NHL goal against Carolina in December. He quickly established himself as a top-four defenceman, finishing fourth among rookie defencemen in scoring with 34 points in 61 games. His playoff performance that spring was equally impressive, leading all rookie defencemen with nine points in 16 games. The following 2006–07 season delivered the ultimate prize: a Stanley Cup championship in just his second full year in Anaheim, during which he contributed four goals and four assists in the postseason. Beauchemin continued as a top-four presence in 2007–08, reaching his 200th career game in February. However, on November 14, 2008, a torn ACL in his left knee against Nashville threatened to end his season. Remarkably, he returned for the Western Conference Quarterfinals against San Jose, showcasing the resilience that defined his career.

Franchise Records and a Career of Resilience

Beauchemin's career took a brief detour through Toronto, where he signed a three-year, $11.4 million deal in 2009. As an alternate captain, he played all 82 games in 2009–10, led the club in ice time, and reached his 300th career game in January. After a less productive 2010–11 season, he was traded back to Anaheim in February 2011. His return was warmly received, and he resumed his top-four role. In 2011–12, he became a defensive anchor, leading the NHL in short-handed ice time and setting a Ducks franchise record by blocking nine shots against Ottawa on January 21. He signed a three-year, $10.5 million extension that January. In the 2012–13 season, he led the Ducks' blueline with 24 points, reached his 500th career game, and recorded a career-high four assists in a single game. In the 2013 playoffs, he surpassed Scott Niedermayer as the franchise's all-time playoff goal leader for defencemen. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting and won The Hockey News' Rod Langway Award as the league's best defensive defenceman.

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