With NHL free agency in full swing, the Colorado Avalanche wasted no time in shoring up their team for the upcoming 2015-16 season. They made two early signings on day one of free agency and announced before noon local time that they were done for the day.
The Avalanche tweeted out the news of their signings Wednesday morning:
NEWS: #Avs sign D Francois Beauchemin and F Blake Comeau. pic.twitter.com/7t4w1rL2EX
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 1, 2015
Incoming defenseman Francois Beauchemin and forward Blake Comeau have both been signed to three-year contracts through the 2017-18 season. Beauchemin’s deal is reportedly for three years and $13.5 million while Comeau’s deal is for $7.2 million over three years, as well.
Beauchemin, a 35-year-old NHL veteran has played most of his career in Anaheim with the Ducks with short stints with the Canadiens, Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs. Last season with the Ducks, Beauchemin had 23 points (11g/12a) in 64 games. Having played in over 670 games, the 6-foot-1 defenseman has recorded 219 career points (60g/159a), while contributing 39 points in 97 career playoff games.The 2007 Stanley cup winner with the Ducks will bring added toughness and grit to an Avalanche team that was pushed around at times last season.
In a conference call, Executive Vice President and General Manager Joe Sakic was very positive about the signing saying, “Francois brings toughness, leadership and a veteran presence to our blue line.” Leadership being a vital element, Sakic reiterated, “you can not have enough of it.”
Finding a top quality defenseman to play top minutes with Erik Johnson was another aspect that Sakic loved about the acquisition. Beauchemin averaged almost 23 minutes of ice-time in Anaheim, excellent considering his age. Additionally, Sakic labeled Beauchemin as a “no-nonsense guy,” and a player that can be “relied on in all situations.”
The second Avs signing, Comeau, is an exciting forward that will bring added depth and firepower to an already loaded Avs frontline. The 29-year-old forward has played for the Islanders, Flames, Blue Jackets and most-recently the Penguins.
Last season, 6-foot-1 Comeau had 31 points (16g/15a) in 61 games. Throughout his career thus far, the right-wing forward has amassed over 480 games in the NHL and has recorded 195 points (88g/107a). Joe Sakic discussed the Comeau signing saying as well speaking about his dependability and versatility, saying, “you can put him anywhere in your lineup.”
Sakic also really liked how Comeau could play against top lines and help out on the penalty kill.
Looking at both signings, fans will be happy to see the Avs front office making moves early in free agency. Sakic seems very pleased with the work done by the Avs saying, “we addressed our needs and what we wanted to do today.” Furthermore, he labeled both new signings as guys who “expect to win, and that is important in any locker room.”
When asked about unrestricted free agents who played with the Avalanche last season, Sakic said that the team is “moving on from (Jan) Hejda, (Ryan) Wilson and (Daniele) Briere. He also said that working on a deal for Erik Johnson, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2015-16, will be a priority for the team this season.
With how the Western Conference continues to get increasingly competitive each season, teams that have depth, resiliency, and veteran leadership are more primed for success in the postseason and beyond.
Today, the Avalanche made a step forward in that direction.
Sammy Mugharbil, a Mile high Sports intern and student at MSU-Denver, contributed to this report