Francois Beauchemin contract bought out by Avalanche

Avalanche fans don’t have Francois Beauchemin to kick around anymore.

The Avs Thursday morning announced they have bought out the final year of the veteran defenseman’s contract. Beauchemin had one year left on a three-year, $13.5 million contract. Despite buying out the final year and $4.5 million left on the deal, the Avs will still have to absorb that $4.5 million cap hit toward this season’s payroll.

That’s because Beauchemin was 35 when the deal started, and the NHL has a rule that states teams must absorb the cap hit of players at that minimum age, even on a buyout. But the Avs do get two “benefits” from the buyout: For one, they only have to pay Beauchemin $3 million in hard cash, and the $3 million is payable in two $1.5 million installments, this year and next.

Also, the Avs now do not have to worry about the need to protect Beauchemin for the upcoming NHL expansion draft. If Beauchemin were not bought out, the Avs would have had to protect him for expansion draft because he had a no-move clause. NHL bylaws state that such players are exempt from the draft, of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

The expansion/no-move clause did not factor into the Avs’ decision to buy him out, however. The Avs did not ask Beauchemin to waive the NMC. It was a hockey decision, more than anything. Avs general manager Joe Sakic has frequently said the goal of the team, moving forward, is to get younger and faster.

Beauchemin played 163 games for the Avs in two seasons, with 52 points (13 goals). He served as an alternate captain last season, but became something of a symbol of the Avs’ frustrated fans, who saw an older player making big money and not providing full value in return.

Beauchemin, 37, now becomes an unrestricted free agent.