With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.
The Colorado Avalanche remain in the NHL’s basement, and 36 year-old defenseman Francois Beauchemin could move in exchange for draft picks and prospects. Veteran defenseman are a playoff team GM’s guilty pleasure, and the cup-winning Beauchemin could prove tempting come trade deadline time. Unfortunately for the Avalanche, Beauchemin’s contract situation may hinder any potential deal.
Contract
Beauchemin is in the 2nd year of a three-year deal worth $4.5MM a year. The contract also contains a No-Movement Clause. Finally, because it is a 35+ contract, the cap hit remains if Beauchemin retires before next season.
2016-17
Beauchemin’s production dropped from last season’s surprise resurgence, but remains in line with his career average. The Avalanche started the season with Beauchemin on the 2nd pairing, but recent injuries to Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie have propelled Beauchemin to average over 27 minutes a night. The increased ice time doesn’t seem to have a negative influence on the veteran defenseman, who has potted 1G and 1A in those last five games. If this season tells us anything, it’s that Beauchemin still has enough gas in the tank to eat large minutes for a contending NHL team.
Season Stats
45 games: 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points. 45.8 CF%, -5, 21:18 ATOI, 100 BLK
Potential Suitors
Playoff-bound teams with enough cap room to handle Beauchemin’s $4.5MM cap hit, and appealing enough for Beauchemin to waive his NMC. The Columbus Blue Jackets could use Beauchemin’s services, and have the cap room to spare. The team could benefit from a veteran presence on a blue with only one player older than 26. Columbus may even be attractive to Beauchemin as a return to a former team. Beauchemin played 11 games for the Blue Jackets in 2005-06 before being traded to Anaheim.
Another potential suitor with ties to Beauchemin is the Montreal Canadiens. Even though the Canadiens just acquired Nikita Nesterov from the Tampa Bay Lightning, a couple of cap moves would create enough space for a proven veteran defenseman. Andrei Markov is 38 and no guarantee to remain healthy during a long playoff run. Beauchemin would provide insurance and additional protection in front of Carey Price.
Likelihood Of A Trade
50-50. Without considering Beauchemin’s contract, his skill and experience make him a hot commodity around the NHL. The problem lies with the three-pronged contractual downside. He still has one year left at $4.5MM, he is on a 35+ contract, and he has a NMC. Any of those three factors could deter interested teams, or at least lower the Avalanche’s expected return. A team with cap space and a good chance at making the finals, however, could provide the perfect landing spot.
I can’t see the Habs being willing to part with assets to acquire Beauchemin. They now have 4 NHL calibre left D in Markov, Beaulieu, Emelin and Nesterov plus they have depth in Barberio. Plus, the extra year on his contract and the NMC attached would completely kill the Habs expansion strategy as they’d be forced to expose Nathan Beaulieu.
The Habs have far more pressing needs at 2nd line C and 2nd line LW
I might be wrong on this, but I thought that after a player waived his NMC, the acquiring team doesn’t have to honor it. If this is the case, then I could see the Habs a potential destination.
It depends on the language of the contract. Since specific details are rarely shared with the public, it’s safe to assume the NMC travels with the player from team to team. Agents generally try and have acquiring teams sign an addendum to ensure the NMC is honoured by the new team but if the players contract states the NMC travels with the player and the new team says they won’t honour it, that’s literally a breach of contract.
Now if his NMC didn’t kick in until next season and the Habs traded for him, then they could simply void the NMC portion of his deal like Nashville did with PK Subban since they didn’t negotiate the clause and it has yet to take effect.