Ducks sign Francois Beauchemin to US$10.5 million, three-year contract extension

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks have signed veteran defenceman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year contract extension worth US$10.5 million.

Anaheim announced the deal Friday, keeping Beauchemin off the free-agent market this summer.

Beauchemin is in his seventh full NHL season, playing briefly in Montreal and Columbus before a trade sent him to the Ducks in November 2005. He won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.

Beauchemin signed with Toronto as a free agent in 2009, but the Ducks reacquired Beauchemin on Feb. 9 last year, giving up high-scoring forward Joffrey Lupul and top prospect Jake Gardiner.

The 31-year-old Beauchemin is Anaheim's top-scoring defenceman this season with six goals and 12 assists. He scored two goals on Wednesday in the Ducks' sixth win in seven games after a miserable start.