Maple Leafs Sign Defenseman Beauchemin to Three-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs remained busy on Monday afternoon by signing defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year contract worth $11.4 million. The deal averages out to $3.8 million per season. In 20 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks, Beauchemin scored four goals and one assist for five points. He missed most of last season with a knee injury he suffered in November. In 246 career games with the Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, and Columbus Blue Jackets, he has 21 goals and 69 assists for 90 points. This is an excellent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Beauchemin is a very physical defenseman with a hard shot. With Beauchemin now under contract and along with Mike Komisarek, Luke Schenn, and Garnet Exelby, the Maple Leafs have one of the most physical bluelines in the league. He previously played under Brian Burke in Anaheim, so it comes as no surprise that Burke pursued a player he is very familiar with. The signing of Beauchemin has led some hockey pundits to speculate that Burke might continue to peddle defenseman Tomas Kaberle to free up salary cap space and bring in a scoring forward. If Kaberle gets traded, the Maple Leafs would lose a lot of offense on their blueline, but still have plenty of talent to keep them competitive defensively.