Francois Beauchemin Inks Deal With Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have signed free agent defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year deal, according to multiple reports.

The deal carries an AAV of $4.5, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. That’s an increase from the $3.5 million cap hit he had last season with the Anaheim Ducks.

#avalanche François Beauchemin 3 years / $4.5 AAV #tvasports

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2015

The Avalanche have been in desperate need of better defense and a left shot defenseman. Beauchemin fills the void. The contract will last through his 38-year-old season.

Last year he posted a score-adjusted -1.3% CF%Rel for the Ducks, the second straight season where he’s posted a negative relative possession number. Despite that, there’s reason to believe that he’ll be an improvement for the Avalanche’s thin blue line that has also seen the team acquire Nikita Zadorov from the Buffalo Sabres in the Ryan O’Reilly trade.

Keep up with all the free agent movement at the The Hockey Writers’ Deal Tracker.

RELATED: Carl Soderberg Signs 5-Year Deal With Colorado

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