Francois Beauchemin

The Ducks were the most feared defensive team, sending out the likes of Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin and Sean O’Donnell. 

After the Ducks’ Stanley Cup victory over the Senators, Niedermayer, along with aging teammate Teemu Selanne, both expressed interest in retirement.  After all, Niedermayer’s victory was his fourth Stanley Cup and he had already proven himself on an International level.  So what was left to prove?

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ne core at a reasonable value.  Between defensemen Tomas Kaberle, Jeff Finger, Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, Luke Schenn and now Phaneuf, the annual salary spent on the team's top six defenseman is $25.53 million.  With the NHL salary cap at $56.8 million, these six players make up about 45% of what the NHL allows payrolls to be.  This leaves little room for bringing in an all-star caliber player on offense to assist winger Phil Kessel in the goal-scoring department, and also makes it difficult to fill the gaps that the team needs in order to roll four strong lines.  If Burke can unload a few of these defensemen via trades or buy-outs, Phaneuf will have better offensive players to feed the puck to.

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p in 2007.  But Anaheim did not see their defense depletion stop there; puck-moving defenseman Francois Beauchemin agreed to a three-year, $11.4 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 5th.  He even had a few harsh words about not being re-signed for his former GM Bob Murray and Anaheim Ducks management.

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ld be a lock-in for the defensive side of the rink, while captain Scott Niedermayer and the skilled Francois Beauchemin are currently facing unrestricted free-agent status.  Ryan Whitney was brought in at the trade deadline from Pittsburgh to add some defensive depth, but losing Niedermayer and Beauchemin this season and possibly Pronger next summer, the team will be looking to add some more gritty defense to compete in the league.

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r />Another option would be to look for another defenseman via free-agency at a decent price.  Francois Beauchemin of the Anaheim Ducks is a free-agent at the end of this year, and he would add Stanley Cup experience as well as grit and toughness behind his team's net.  Jordan Leopold of the Calgary Flames is a free-agent as well.  Leopold was acquired at the deadline from Colorado to add good puck control as well as speed on the back line.  This is something that could not hurt the Panthers, who could possibly lose the speed of Bouwmeester and Boynton in one off-season.

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