So Long, Beauch

Since he'll be rejoining Burkie in T.O. His amazing improvement made the Fedorov trade for our team, he was a huge part of the 2007 Cup team, and who can forget him flooring Iginla in 2006, one of the team's best playoff moments?

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He's been a huge piece of our puzzle ever since the trade that brought him here. He will be sorely missed.

http://www.moncton-wildcats.com/image/Beauchemin_2.jpg

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I was at game 6 against the flames, probably the greatest moment I've seen in person ducks-wise.

Man he only signed for 3.3 a year average? If we really can't afford to sign a legit top 4 guy for that price then **** this budget. I hope there were other mitigating factors other than money because that is a completely reasonable price.

3.8, Static.

He obviously didn't want to take a paycut to stay in Anaheim... Oh well, still makes me sad to lose a guy we got in one of the best trades ever made by the Ducks. Best of luck to you Beauch.

You will be forgotten but sorely missed. Especially putting Kopecky out of the playoffs this year. Good times.

3.8, Static.

Oh. Disregard my rant then.

Wonder how Burke got beauch to take less money than jeff finger, that ought to have been an interesting sell.

I am just curious to understand why we couldn't have come up with the same deal. 3.8 million is very reasonable for a top 4 defensemen.

oh well 3.8M is not much for top 4 Dman
i think sbisa will stay in anaheim

but now we will see if king beauchemin is really top 4 when he will not play with scotty or prongs

I am assuming the Ducks are planning to go with :

Scotty Sbisa
Whitney Wiz
Mikkelsson/Festerling Brookbank

I am missing Pronger everyday. We are missing top 4 defensemen who can hold the second pairing.

but now we will see if king beauchemin is really top 4 when he will not play with scotty or prongs
We'll see if he's that in Toronto, under Ron Wilson. How useful that knowledge is is quite questionable. He was nowhere near a top-4 defender in C-bus before he came here.

We better be getting a decent second line centre now that our defense is in the bottom 10 in the league.

$3.8M isn't too bad for Beauchemin, maybe a bit high but he's a better defenseman than Komisarek who got $4.5M. Burke sure does like signing his ex players, I'm willing to bet he targets Moen next.

So long Beauch, thanks for the memories. Can anyone post his huge hit on Brunette that knocked him out of the Colorado series, I can't seem to find it anywhere.

I am just curious to understand why we couldn't have come up with the same deal. 3.8 million is very reasonable for a top 4 defensemen.

Money was an issue but not the entire issue. Beauchemin didnt want to be in anaheim anymore. He wanted to be on the east coast

Money was an issue but not the entire issue. Beauchemin didnt want to be in anaheim anymore. He wanted to be on the east coast

He just stated on his conference call that the Ducks were his number one choice but an offer never came... whether he's blowing smoke or not you can question but that's his perspective...

He just stated on his conference call that the Ducks were his number one choice but an offer never came... whether he's blowing smoke or not you can question but that's his perspective...

I said it in the other post. It's politics. You believe what you want. I am just going off what multiple Ducks players told me.

Take it for what it's worth, I for one don't think they were lying to me when they told me.

I am just curious to understand why we couldn't have come up with the same deal. 3.8 million is very reasonable for a top 4 defensemen.
It is unreasonable when you're paying 6 million, 4 million, and probably 3-3.5 million to your other 3 top 4 guys. With our budget we can really only afford to overpay one guy, and that's Lupul (and maybe even Giguere).

3.8's not a huge overpayment for Beauch, but it's more than we can do.

In addition, we have a bunch of bottom-pairing types pushing from within the system, plus a first-round pick from 4 drafts ago who's never seen pro ice. Spending top dollars on yet another top 4 guy is really a luxury at this point.

If we could just have found some way to survive without Christensen and Steve McCarthy and give 2.5 more for Beauch.

I doubt either of those guys spend much time in Anaheim next year.

Basically

Burke >>>>>>> Murray

If we could just have found some way to survive without Christensen and Steve McCarthy and give 2.5 more for Beauch.

And how would that help? The Ducks are usually carrying a 23 man roster, removing Christensen at 700k and McCarthy at ?k (probably around 550-600k) would save 200k at most, since Bodie at 500k and someone else likely at 650-750k would make the 23 man roster instead.

Basically

Burke >>>>>>> Murray

Or...

The budget and team Burke had to work with >>>>>> the budget and team Murray has to work with.

Basically

Burke >>>>>>> Murray
Not sure about that. Murray has had to rebuild this team very quickly and has done well. The jury is still out on Mr Burke in Toronto. Ask Vancouver what they think.

If we could just have found some way to survive without Christensen and Steve McCarthy and give 2.5 more for Beauch.

That's exactly what I was thinking. 3.8 million isn't much at all for a top 4 guy that can play 25-30 minutes a game. If the Ducks didn't match, they are just plain stupid.

I for one don't think he's lieing about not receiving an offer. He might be lieing about the Ducks being his first choice, but I don't think it would be to smart for him to say he didn't receive a Ducks offer when Murray could just turn around and say "yes we did".

If we don't add another top 4 defensemen before next year, then we can kiss our chances goodbye. I'm praying that we either trade for another top 4, or sign Seidenberg.

That's interesting if true about the team not giving him an offer. Maybe they just decided he wasn't worth that price range period or else Murray has a deal in the fire for another defenseman.

I think Murray is penciling Sbisa in the top 4. At 850k, he is 3 million dollars cheaper than Beauchemin. Our defense is not looking so good at the moment.

I think Murray is penciling Sbisa in the top 4. At 850k, he is 3 million dollars cheaper than Beauchemin. Our defense is not looking so good at the moment.
Site unseen, that's kind of a bold statement.

I think Murray is penciling Sbisa in the top 4. At 850k, he is 3 million dollars cheaper than Beauchemin. Our defense is not looking so good at the moment.


That's the understatement of the year. No way we compete next year with that lineup.

[/B]


That's the understatement of the year. No way we compete next year with that lineup.
Yeah. There's no way. It isn't possible. Sbisa dragged down Philly, and now he's going to do the same to us! Run away!

Yeah. There's no way. It isn't possible. Sbisa dragged down Philly, and now he's going to do the same to us! Run away!

He should easily be able to replace Pronger and Beauch. With whom we didn't get very far.

[/B]


That's the understatement of the year. No way we compete next year with that lineup.

I think we might underestimate our D a little bit. But there are a lot of "ifs".

IF Whitney can be that 50+ point defenseman his early career projected him to be...

IF Wisniewski can keep his game up at the same level and being able to put up 30-35 points...

IF Sbisa keeps developing he could be a nice surprise already next season...

The Ducks could then have a good top 4. But that's a lot of "ifs", but I remember there were a lot of those before the 05/06 season too, and that team went pretty far.

The team in 05/06 didn't consist of Pronger. Sure we had McDonald, but Getzlaf and Perry weren't near as good as they have become today, neither did we have Bobby Ryan. I can see this team missing the playoffs, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this team passing the first couple of playoff rounds. But there sure are some things that needs to be adressed. Even with Wis re-signed, I think the Ducks needs another #4 or #5 D-men along with a bottom six forward who can play the PK if we can't keep Marchant.

Good bye. You always reminded me of my dad.

He should easily be able to replace Pronger and Beauch. With whom we didn't get very far.
Beauchemin barely played and had nothing to do with the late-season run the team went on.

For the bulk of the year the team featured Montador, Hedican, Festerling and Mikkelson, along with the two towers (who mostly played like crap) and they all saw plenty of minutes.

You don't think Niedermayer, Whitney, Wisniewski, Sbisa, Brookbank and a bag of rocks can do better? Really?

Good bye. You always reminded me of my dad.
Creepiest post of the thread.

You don't think Niedermayer, Whitney, Wisniewski, Sbisa, Brookbank and a bag of rocks can do better? Really?
When it mattered, we had Scotty, Prongs, Beauch, Whitney, Wiz and Brookbank all playing well. And yes, i think that was a better defence than what we have now.

So you agree then, that there's no way we can compete?

So you agree then, that there's no way we can compete?

It seems so, unfortunately. There's still a lot of time to improve so i'm hopeful but it's not looking too great at the moment.

Good bye. You always reminded me of my dad.
Non-sequitur post of the year nominee.


IMO, the D seems passable, but a little substandard. Certainly possible to sneak into the playoffs with that D, but not with a lot of other weaknesses. Unfortunately, we still have a big question mark in the 2nd line. I'd be OK with improving only 1 though. That would be a semi-contender.

It seems so, unfortunately. There's still a lot of time to improve so i'm hopeful but it's not looking too great at the moment.
It isn't really an additive thing. Teams need to be built around a theme that jibes with the coaching philosophy, they need to develop chemistry, and they need to have talent. I think we have two out of three of those already.

Teams have been winning Cups without Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin since time immemorial. More important than either of those guys is solid goaltending, that'll determine how good or bad our next season is. Jesus, look at the Penguins sorry group of defensemen. And they beat the Red Wings!

You guys are already selling at next season's deadline, lawd lawd. Haha. There's plenty to work with here, just relax.

It isn't really an additive thing. Teams need to be built around a theme that jibes with the coaching philosophy, they need to develop chemistry, and they need to have talent. I think we have two out of three of those already.We have talent, although at D it's a bit inexperienced, we may have chemistry, i think we do. Coahing philosohy, the most important of those i'd say, has revolved around a strong deep blueline, strong defensive role-players and an aggressive forecheck. Not much of that happening at the moment.

Teams have been winning Cups without Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin since time immemorial. More important than either of those guys is solid goaltending, that'll determine how good or bad our next season is. Jesus, look at the Penguins sorry group of defensemen. And they beat the Red Wings!They have, but not with big holes on top-6 offense and a weak supportive cast of roleplayers.

The Pens beat a banged up excuse of the team we and the Hawks faced.

This team needs two quality top-4 defensemen, a quality 2nd line center and a couple of experienced vets for the bottom-6. Without subtracting major parts from the current roster.

This team needs two quality top-4 defensemen, a quality 2nd line center and a couple of experienced vets for the bottom-6. Without subtracting major parts from the current roster.

No way the Ducks can afford that with a $50M budget. With the current budget we can only afford to resign Wiz, maybe Marchant and bring in either a cheap veteran D or a cheap 2nd line centre.

Unless Giguere is dealt or the Ducks go over the budget then Murray's going to have to pick between having Ebbett centre the second line and signing another defenseman or keeping the defense as in and maybe bringing in someone half decent to centre Selanne.

goodbye beauch you were always one of my favorites :cry:

We have talent, although at D it's a bit inexperienced, we may have chemistry, i think we do. Coahing philosohy, the most important of those i'd say, has revolved around a strong deep blueline, strong defensive role-players and an aggressive forecheck. Not much of that happening at the moment.

The directive for the defense here is to keep the gap small, have one guy stand at the blue line while the other ranges back to retrieve the puck, make short passes off the boards to beat forecheckers and then make either long passes, or skate the puck out to support the rush. The Ducks system requires mobility, vision, and passing skill more than anything. Amongst our top 4 we have an abundance of that.


This team needs two quality top-4 defensemen, a quality 2nd line center and a couple of experienced vets for the bottom-6. Without subtracting major parts from the current roster.

No. The team doesn't need any more defensemen, although it would be nice to have one more vet to lean on. The D as it stands is perfectly acceptable. If this team fails to make the playoffs I think the culprit will be role players (as you mentioned) or goaltending. The time for having the league's best and most expensive group of defensemen is over. There are other ways to win.

I think penciling Sbisa as a top4 D is a huge mistake. He really should start the season in the AHL to learn the duck's system. The problem with no AHL affiliate is he goes to some hogwash team and we have no control on how they use him.

Asking him to play anything more 10-15 minutes a game is a huge risk and our defense will look more after Beach went down with an injury.

Anyone regret paying Whitney 4 million when we could have had Beach for 3.8?

Bottom line, I think Murray waits for the asking prices of leftovers UFAs to drop. I think Boynton, Morris, and Seidenberg are still available.

I think its a little early to be judging the Ducks roster. We are only a week into free agency. Like the guy before me said, guys like Morris and Seidenberg are still available. Plus, I think if we went into next season with Niedermayer, Whitney, Wisniewski, and Sbisa as our top 4, that's still pretty good. I am confident we will get good goaltending next year and with Niedermayer playing 25 minutes a game, we will be fine. Lets just hope Nieds doesn't get injured...

I think penciling Sbisa as a top4 D is a huge mistake. He really should start the season in the AHL to learn the duck's system. The problem with no AHL affiliate is he goes to some hogwash team and we have no control on how they use him.

Asking him to play anything more 10-15 minutes a game is a huge risk and our defense will look more after Beach went down with an injury.

Anyone regret paying Whitney 4 million when we could have had Beach for 3.8?

Bottom line, I think Murray waits for the asking prices of leftovers UFAs to drop. I think Boynton, Morris, and Seidenberg are still available.

Whitney has 50+ point upside, so no... Also he is 3 years younger than Beauch who didn't really want to be in Anaheim. As for Sbisa, I agree that he shouldn't be rushed. But I'd prefer to use him in Anaheim if we could play him with no pressure the same way we did with Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan. Playing Sbisa in another teams AHL team wouldn't be a very good thing IMO, especieally if he has a good camp.

The guy may be born 1990, but if Doughty could play with the pressure of being the best D-men on his team in his rookie year, then why shouldn't Sbisa, who also was a 1st round pick, being able to play as a depth defenseman in the NHL his 2nd year in the NHL? IMO, he should see at least 50 games in the NHL next season and spend the rest in the AHL, just like Getzlaf and Perry did.

No way the Ducks can afford that with a $50M budget. With the current budget we can only afford to resign Wiz, maybe Marchant and bring in either a cheap veteran D or a cheap 2nd line centre. Which is exactly why i'm not all that optimistic about competing next year. Hopeful, yes, optimistic, no.


The directive for the defense here is to keep the gap small, have one guy stand at the blue line while the other ranges back to retrieve the puck, make short passes off the boards to beat forecheckers and then make either long passes, or skate the puck out to support the rush. The Ducks system requires mobility, vision, and passing skill more than anything. Amongst our top 4 we have an abundance of that.What about without the puck if the opposition doesn't just shoot the puck in? Strength along the boards and infront of the net, positioning, shotblocking, cutting passing lanes etc.. What about PK? Or is the assumption we stop taking a lot of penalties?

No. The team doesn't need any more defensemen, although it would be nice to have one more vet to lean on. The D as it stands is perfectly acceptable. The time for having the league's best and most expensive group of defensemen is over. There are other ways to win.Relying on two of Brookbank, Sbisa, Mikkelson, Salcido to play top-4 minutes goes way beyond optimism imo.

We don't need to best and most expensive defense to compete, no. We do need better than bottom-10 in the league, though

Relying on two of Brookbank, Sbisa, Mikkelson, Salcido to play top-4 minutes goes way beyond optimism imo.

You're assuming Wisniewski isn't coming back?

You're assuming Wisniewski isn't coming back?I'm saying he doesn't have a contract. The team needs two defensemen, one of whom may be Wisniewski. Just like Marchant, he doesn't have a contract either but he could be one of the vet grinders the team needs.

Damn, I always thought games had to be played before the season ended.

One more dman is needed in my opinion as well. It has nothing to do with talent but moreso experience. Sbisa, while he played in the big league last year, is still only 19. How much realistically should be asked of him, and what are the risks to his development if he is rushed? If he is going to play he needs to do so in a more sheltered situation than a top 4 role.

Jay mckee sounds like a good option to me. He's brittle, but his game is simple and would add needed grit and a crease presence that right now is lacking on our blueline.

One more dman is needed, in my opinion as well. It has nothing to do with talent but moreso experience. Sbisa, while he played in the big league last year, is still only 19. How much realistically should be asked of him, and what are the risks to his development if he is rushed? If he is going to play he needs to do so in a more sheltered situation than a top 4 role.

Jay mckee sounds like a good option to me. He's brittle, but his game is simple and would add needed grit and a crease presence that right now is lacking on our blueline.

Agreed. In order to compete we almost have to add another top 4 defender IMO. Sbisa shouldn't be rushed into top 4 minutes, and I don't expect him to be. If we keep the current roster and resign Wiz, then we are looking at a top 4 of S.Niedermayer, Whitney, Wiz, and Brookbank. I don't know what to do with Sbisa though. Calimad, he can't really learn our system in the AHL because we don't have a team. He will be learning a different team's system. That's why I think the ideal situation would be to keep him on the bottom pairing getting 10-14 minutes a game. Put him with Brookbank or Salcido and we have a solid 5-6 pairing. I don't think Seidenberg will come here the more I think about it because I think the Ducks will be looking for a short term solution. Boynton or Mckee comes to mind, but I'd rather take Boynton. 1 year deal at 2.8 million would be perfect. I still think it's a mistake not matching the offer Beauchemin signed for. We're going to most likely lose S.Niedermayer next year, and personally I don't like the idea of going into next year with Whitney and possibly Wisniewski under contract.

I'll King Beauch! ::: sigh ::: There goes more toughness.

Anyhow, I'd like to see Mitera on the NHL club. He's had four years at college level, so physically, he should be up to it. He's a defensive d-man and would be interesting to see how fast he adapts to the NHL level of play. Sbisa and Mitera could be a good pairing for years to come by.

I cant believe bob murray wouldn't match the 3.8 mil.. He wants to build from the back end out but right now our defence is not very good.. avg at best i think.. especially with this wisnewski thing.. its possible that wiz is askin for 2.5 or 2.75 and murray wants 1.75 or 2.. i understand that he wants to keep the salary down but you have to spend something.. or you wont be able to ice a competitive hockey team

Not sure about that. Murray has had to rebuild this team very quickly and has done well. The jury is still out on Mr Burke in Toronto. Ask Vancouver what they think.

They are a bunch of whiners in Vancouver. They have their precious Sedins because of Burke. I am stunned Beauchemin went so cheap.

I think penciling Sbisa as a top4 D is a huge mistake. He really should start the season in the AHL to learn the duck's system. The problem with no AHL affiliate is he goes to some hogwash team and we have no control on how they use him.

Asking him to play anything more 10-15 minutes a game is a huge risk and our defense will look more after Beach went down with an injury.

Anyone regret paying Whitney 4 million when we could have had Beach for 3.8?

Bottom line, I think Murray waits for the asking prices of leftovers UFAs to drop. I think Boynton, Morris, and Seidenberg are still available.
Yes. That's exactly what I thought when the trade went down. "4 for Whitney is more of an overpayment than 3.73 for Kunitz."
Agreed. In order to compete we almost have to add another top 4 defender IMO. Sbisa shouldn't be rushed into top 4 minutes, and I don't expect him to be. If we keep the current roster and resign Wiz, then we are looking at a top 4 of S.Niedermayer, Whitney, Wiz, and Brookbank.
I suspect Festerling gets first crack at the last top-4 spot. Over Brookbank, Mikkelson, Salcido, or Sbisa.

Both Festerling and Sbisa have had at least a modicum of success in a top 4 role. I think it's a toss-up.

Anyone regret paying Whitney 4 million when we could have had Beach for 3.8?



Not at all. You realize Beauchemin's top point total was 38. You realize the guy only played one full NHL season with the ducks.

I'm not going to say Whitney doesn't leave something to be desired. But to argue Beauchemin is equal production wise to Whitney is just wrong.

Beauchemin was worth about 2.5 in ability. The fact he got 3.8 is an overpayment.

Not at all. You realize Beauchemin's top point total was 38. You realize the guy only played one full NHL season with the ducks.

I'm not going to say Whitney doesn't leave something to be desired. But to argue Beauchemin is equal production wise to Whitney is just wrong.

Beauchemin was worth about 2.5 in ability. The fact he got 3.8 is an overpayment.

Beauchemin is much better on the defensive end and obviously much more physical than Whitney while bringing comparable offense

Beauch is obviously 20 times more physical than Whitney but is overrated as a defender, easily beaten one-on-one even in his good year.

I don't think you're really giving up much in terms of defensive ability from one to the other (though there is a gap), and Whitney does bring a potentially much higher offensive dimension.

Not at all. You realize Beauchemin's top point total was 38. You realize the guy only played one full NHL season with the ducks.

I'm not going to say Whitney doesn't leave something to be desired. But to argue Beauchemin is equal production wise to Whitney is just wrong.

Beauchemin was worth about 2.5 in ability. The fact he got 3.8 is an overpayment.

You're value of Beauchemin is way to low. I realize that he doesn't put very many points, but he was solid defensively, can eat big minutes, and steps up for teammates. He struggled at times, but was solid most of the time. He struggled when he was paired with a young guy and they had to play top 4 minutes. That proves that he's not an elite defensemen, but he's still an excellent defender. 3.5 million is what I thought would be fair, and signing him at 3.8 would have been a good idea. I realize that we don't know for sure if he wanted to be here, but my point is that his value is much higher then you think. Please tell me some defensemen in the 2.5 range that are as good as Beauchemin.