The Anaheim Ducks have announced that defenseman Francois Beauchemin has successfully undergone surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL, and hopes to be ready for the start of the 2013-14 regular season.
Beauchemin, 32, reportedly played the final month of the regular season and playoffs on the torn ligament, a pretty stunning development given he had one of the finest seasons of his career in 2013.
Beauchemin scored six goals and 24 points while averaging 23:37 per game -- leading the Ducks with a plus-19 rating -- and finished 10th in the NHL in blocked shots, with 111.
Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau openly lobbied for Beauchemin to garner Norris Trophy consideration as the NHL’s best defenseman this year.
In the playoffs, Beauchemin upped his time on ice per game to 25:22 -- again, on a torn ACL -- and tied Ryan Getzlaf for the team scoring lead, with six points.