By Sean James
Let’s address these one at a time now, shall we? Francois
Beauchemin. A longtime fan favorite in Anaheim, but now he just turned
35-years-old and was a $3.5 million cap hit this season. He got a lot of
attention during the final two games of the Western Conference Final
for all the wrong reasons. The defense overall fell apart in those final
two games, but Beauchemin especially looked poor. Just look to the
first goal of Game 7. The Blackhawks had two forwards right in front of
Freddie Andersen while Beauchemin was standing off to the side. By the
time Beauchemin got to the front to check Jonathan Toews, the puck had
already been put in the goal. He is now a UFA. He has said that he
wishes to stay and the front office would like that as well. There have
not been any contract talks between the two sides. After the moves made
at the trade deadline, there is now a bit of a logjam at the Ducks
blueline. I personally think it’s time for a changing of the guard in
the defense corps with the emergence of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm,
Sami Vatanen and even Simon Despres and Josh Manson. So, will Boom-Boom
be back? As much as both sides would like him to stay, I say, “Non!”
Matt Beleskey is coming off a career year where he set career highs in
goals, points and plus/minus. He also trimmed down on the penalties this
year from 64, 56 and 72 PIM over the last three seasons to just 39 this
year. Then, he potted eight goals in just 16 games during the recent
playoff run. He certainly scored some clutch goals during that run,
including the game-winner in Game 5 of the Conference Final. Unlike,
Beauchemin, there have been contract talks between Beleskey’s agent and
the Ducks. In fact, Anaheim wanted to get an extension done before the
deadline, otherwise he might have been available. However, no extension
was agreed upon and Murray decided to keep him in hopes of a
championship. He made just $1.4 million last year, but could be in for a
big raise. With this being a bit of a weak free agency class, some NHL
team will be willing to pay more than what Beleskey is actually worth
and could offer him more consistent top-six ice time. Matty B saw time
on all four lines this season and three of them in the playoffs alone.
With all that said, I think Beleskey will be on the move, as well.
Lastly, head coach Bruce Boudreau and the entire coaching staff will be
evaluated too. There’s no doubt, BB has done some good things here. He
took over a team that was kind of lost and has posted a 162-79-29 record
over three plus seasons. He’s led them to three division titles and a
21-15 playoff record. But, the big question with BB is Game 7’s. Only
twice in NHL history has a franchise lost at home in a Game 7 three
seasons in a row and BB has been the head coach both times……….that is
staggering. I mean, he’s won Game 7’s at every other level, but can’t
win them in the NHL. I believe he’s only won one as an NHL coach, and I
don’t quite wanna check that out because this Game 7 talk is all very
depressing anymore. Now, you can’t fire a coach just because he can’t
win a Game 7 after everything else he has done, can you? Just look at
how hard it is to even make the playoffs in the current NHL. Boudreau
has missed the playoffs just once, and all it takes is a chance. He got
over one hump this year by getting into the Conference Final, who’s to
say that he can’t get over this one? I know there is a lot of
frustration from the Ducks and their fanbase about losing at home in
Game 7, again. I was part of it and I was quite rash in saying he should
be fired. I think that Boudreau should stay, BUT if there isn’t at
least progression to a Cup Final next year then maybe that would be the
time to give him the ax.
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