76 replies to this topic

[DropThePuck]

Buried beneath all the bluster on Burke are nice words about Franky ...

"He was on our radar long before we made the deal with Columbus," Burke said at the time. "We had gotten some pretty good reports on Francois in the American Hockey League from (then VP of hockey operations) Bob Murray, who said, 'The guy you have to get in the deal is Beauchemin.' Boy was he right."
...
"I remember thinking he was a workhorse down there, played a lot of minutes in a lot of different situations. He had paid his dues," Carlyle said. "As it turned out, we feel that we got a great player that hadn't really had an opportunity to show what he could do at this level."

What was so impressive was that Beauchemin still was a wide-eyed youngster looking at the challenge and opportunity he had gotten in Anaheim.

"When you consider where I was and where I'm at now, you have to look at my story as some sort of fantasy, don't you?" he said back then. "I looked at moving to Anaheim as more of a challenge, more of an opportunity to prove myself. Not trying to be as good as Sergei Fedorov."

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Glad you got your contract Beauch. You earned it. Sorry we could no longer afford to keep you. Good luck ... except against us.

[DucksPT]

Another player I really liked
I agree... he has earned it... best of luck to you, Frankie!

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Same here.

Boom-Boom is every coach's dream player. Zero maintenance, does what you tell him, works his tail off night in & night out.

If Beauch isn't the poster boy for the blue collar work ethic that the Ducks won the Cup with, nobody is.

Not only is your name on the Cup as a Duck forever, you will never be forgotten as warrior-champion in Anaheim. Best of everything to you and your family, Frankie!

(and please forgive us if we don't wish your team well, even though we do you )

[DropThePuck]

Beauchemin's NHL experience, playoff savvy, maturity, solid defense, ability to stay out of the box, smart decision making, good size, and long-standing relationship with GM Brian Burke—as well as his ability to play in all situations—clearly puts him at the top of the list when considering who should captain the Maple Leafs.

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[Kariya9]

It would be awesome to see Frankie captain Toronto.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Which brings us to our next contestant—newly signed defenseman Francois Beauchemin.

I would be amazed to see a true French Canadian appointed as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For Burke and Wilson to do that would be quite the bold move, to say the least.

[ahtikullervo]

Frankie Knuckles is worth it. He will lead in a good way!

[DropThePuck]

“When I got to Anaheim, I learned a lot from Scott Niedermayer,” said Beauchemin. “He taught me a lot about what it takes to be a professional in the dressing room and on the ice. Chris Pronger was a big influence on me, too. Being around those guys, I’d say that wasn’t too bad at all.”
...
“It will be a lot different than playing in Anaheim, but I can’t wait,” offered Beauchemin. “I guess I’ll have to buy some winter clothes now.”

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[DropThePuck]

When Francois Beauchemin watches video of the Maple Leafs' first two games, he must wonder who the hell is that defenceman wearing No. 22.

"This is not my type of game," the former member of the air-tight Anaheim Ducks said of being on the ice for eight of the 10 goals against the 0-2 Leafs in power-play and even-strength situations, and being minus-4 overall. "I have to be a lot better."
...
Beauchemin pleaded guilty on Saturday.

"I made some bad decisions at the blueline, trying to keep pucks in, pinching a little too much, not reading the play well," he said. "I believe in this group and I know we'll get a lot better than this."

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[FredFrog]

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Having watched the games on television, I know who that Number 22 guy is. He is the same guy who showed up when Scott was "retired" for half a season. I wish Beauch well, but he is going to have to step up his game to be worth the money that Toronto is paying him.

[Todrick]

Hate to say I told you so...

OK no I don't.

[QuacksMeUp]

Frankie was mentioned prominently in last night's "How I Met Your Mother- Road Trip/Duel Citizenship episode" on CBS. (sigh) as a Leaf (sigh)

About the 4 minute mark -- Robin and Barney at Tim Hortons

[DropThePuck]

"It was new everything," said Beauchemin. "Nothing much was going our way and I was trying to do too much. Sometimes you try to do too much and think more about yourself than the team. When you do that, you're not really doing what your job is supposed to be."

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[DropThePuck]

Mikhail Grabovski and Francois Beauchemin were involved in a scuffle and had to be separated, reports AM640 in Toronto.

The radio station is reporting the pair was involved in an argument and Grabovski tried to punch Beauchemin. Jason Blake and assistant coach Tim Hunter got between them.

<TSN link>

[Doorswideshut]

I love "hot I meet your mother!"

[Rage]

Ugly stuff. Sounds like the Leafs have finally hit that 'full-breakdown' mode.

[DropThePuck]

Toronto Maple Leafs NHL hockey player Francois Beauchemin, right, talks with schoolchildren at an outdoor practice held by the team in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)


Toronto Maple Leafs NHL hockey players Francois Beauchemin, right, and Mike Komisarek, second from right, talk with schoolchildren at an outdoor practice held by the team in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

[RGS_Quack93]

Beauchemin and Komisarek will wear the alternate letters this year. Good for him.

[Duckbill]

WELCOME BACK BOOM BOOM!

[ladiesandgentlemen]

WELCOME BACK BOOM BOOM!

Hear Hear!

We wish we never shunned thee!

[Number8]

Since we don't have a thread for him, I thought I'd start one! Great play by him tonight versus the Blue Jackets.

The one thing that is a question mark though was his hit on Carter. Apparently some thought it was dirty and that he made considerable contact with the head. I didn't see it live at the game, but TSN is showing it on their highlight reel of the game. Should we be worried?

Clip via TSN: http://watch.tsn.ca/featured/clip597179#clip597179

[ducks4adam98]

If he hit his head at all, it was most definitely not the principle point of contact. Beauch clearly made principle contact with Carter's shoulder, I don't feel like this should be a suspension at all.

[Sloth]

Looks like shoulder to shoulder maybe head. Looks like he caught Carter with his head down. That's on Carter. Sad to see someone hurt especially one who wasn't gooning it up but it happens in sports.

This is the least likely hit to be reviewed tomorrow. JFJ's elbow and Kubalik's boarding rank higher

[Syko]

He will get 2 games... Bank on it...

[beasy1975]

This is the ducks. He will get suspended.

[ducks4adam98]

This is the ducks. He will get suspended.

Shanny's been pretty good about his suspensions this year. I think he's doing a great job, and there have been a few hits by Ducks that would have resulted in instant suspensions by Campbell but Shanny has let them go.

[Kenny]

It's sad that Beauchemin is getting a hearing, but Kubalik or whoever it was that hit Bobby isn't even noticed. If Bobby dislocated his shoulder would they have looked at it again? Injury I think is definitely a factor sometimes in suspension, but that was an incredibly dangerous hit that Bobby luckily shook off. Not that I'm saying it deserves a hearing, that's not what I mean. I just think if you're going to ignore the Kubalik hit, but go after Beauch, there's something wrong there.

[2forroughing]

Is there a link? I wasn't aware that a hearing had been announced. Never-mind... I found it. Beauchemin / JFJ discipline hearing

It certainly looks like a glancing shoulder to shoulder blow to me. Tough break for Carter, but completely legal. The hit to BR and the one by JFJ were (by far) worse. I can see Jacques getting a couple of games susp... I'm stunned that they're not looking at the hit to Ryan.

[Number8]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020613

Columbus came out of it much worse as Jeff Carter suffered a separated shoulder, coach Scott Arniel said, from a third period hit delivered by Francois Beauchemin.

If that doesn't get him off the hook, what does? Shoulder to shoulder causing a separated shoulder? I think it's clean, Mr. Shanahan

[rollingdux]

Boom Boom our wrecking ball.