Francois Beauchemin knows the Flames in the playoffs all too well.
The veteran defenseman was just a rookie during the 2006 playoffs when his sixth-seeded Anaheim Mighty Ducks took on the third-seeded Calgary Flames in the playoffs, where the Ducks would come out victorious in a seven-game series.
Beauchemin's highlight of the series was when he squared off with Jarome Iginla, arguably the best player in the league at that time. The two got into a bit of a pushing match with one another before both decided to drop the gloves. As the two took off their helmets, looking each other dead in the eyes, Beauchemin dropped Iginla with a left hook right in the mouth.
The 34-year-old defenseman doesn't drop the gloves nearly as often, as he's now the grizzly veteran the Ducks heavily lean on when times get tough.
“He is a big part of our team," defenseman Cam Fowler said. "We certainly see him as the anchor of our defensive corps. Just the leadership he brings, not only to the defense but the entire team, is something that’s pretty special.’’
That leadership plays a critical role to the Ducks' success. Beauchemin had played in 81 playoff games before the 2015 playoffs begun, and he has a Stanley Cup ring that he won with the Ducks in the 2006-07 season. He is by far the most experienced defenseman Anaheim has, and it's really not even close. The average age of every other defensemen the Ducks have had suit up this season during the playoffs is just 24.
So while Beauchemin may feel the pressure of a bunch of young kids looking to him for guidance, he is actually embracing it, and he's having a blast during these playoffs.
“It’s a lot of fun," Beauchemin said. "These guys, even though they’re young they’re working really hard. I’m here to try and lead by example, talk to them in practice and during games. A lot of talk on the ice, obviously. I let them know what’s going on, special faceoff plays, tendencies of other players. But they’ve done a really good job. They want to learn and they’ve gotten a lot better this year.’’
(h/t Calgary Herald)
Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA Today Sports
