Ducks reacquire Francois Beauchemin for Joffrey Lupul, prospect and draft pick

The Ducks upgraded their defense and created long-term salary cap space Wednesday when they reacquired defenseman Francois Beauchemin — a key figure in their 2007 Stanley Cup championship — from Toronto for winger Joffrey Lupul, touted college defense prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional draft pick in 2013.

Beauchemin comes with a high salary cap hit of $3.8 million this season and next. But Lupul’s contract carries a cap hit of $4.25 million per year through the 2012-13 season. Without that contract on their books the Ducks should have more flexibility to re-sign core forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, whose contracts expire after the 2012-13 season, and keep them with winger Bobby Ryan, who is under contract through the 2014-15 season.

Beauchemin left the then-salary-cap-strapped Ducks as a free agent in 2009 to sign with the Maple Leafs. His time there has been rocky — he was -4 in 54 games this season and had only two goals and 12 points — but Ducks fans remember his hard hits, dangerous shot from the point, and the four goals and eight points he contributed in 20 playoff games in the 2007 playoffs while averaging a hefty 30 minutes and 33 seconds’ ice time per game.

Lupul came back from a devastating post-surgical infection to score five goals and 13 points in 26 games with the Ducks this season. Gardiner, 20, has averaged a point per game with the University of Wisconsin this season and was chosen by the Ducks in the first round of the 2008 entry draft. The Ducks were reluctant to give him up but paid that price to reinforce their defense for a playoff run this season.

Ducks General Manager Bob Murray had been looking to strengthen the defense since the team rebounded from a rocky start and reentered the playoff picture. If Beauchemin can approach his old form, their top six defensemen should be fairly strong.

Check back later for comments from Beauchemin and Murray.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Francois Beauchemin in 2007. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press

Ducks' Lupul winging his way home

Ducks winger Joffrey Lupul inched closer to playing his first NHL game since last Dec. 8.

Lupul, who experienced complications and an infection following back surgery, was traveling to Anaheim on Saturday after playing three games for Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Lupul and a goal and four points during his conditioning assignment.

The Ducks said in a news release that Lupul will meet with team doctors this weekend. Until he's cleared to play, he will remain on the long-term injury list.

--Helene Elliott

Ducks' Joffrey Lupul gets a lesson in social media

Joffrey Lupul’s back is much better but he now has a mild case of Twitter remorse.

The Ducks winger underwent disc surgery last December and hasn’t been able to get back onto the ice because of a virulent and recurring post-surgical infection. He was put on a long course of antibiotics and was prohibited from exercising strenuously, which is why he had hockey fans buzzing Monday morning when he posted this on his Twitter account:

“After 10 mons I just got Medical clearance to start skating again. Gonna need a cpl months to get back in shape but I am ready for it!!”

Just one problem: He wasn’t cleared to start skating, only to resume working out.

“My tweet may have sounded a little more optimistic than it really is, but when you’ve had as much bad news as I’ve had, any good news is a great thing,” he said Monday afternoon.

“I can start my workouts and if I want to get on the ice sometime in the near future I can go ahead and do that, albeit by myself. [His doctor] made it clear he doesn’t want me out there with the guys or anything but it’s a small step in the right direction.

“I’m just really looking forward to getting back in shape. My body is nowhere near where it should be after all that time off. So I’m happy that way.”

But he has a ways to go. “There’s a protocol they want me to follow and there will be a lot of checkups and things like that in the future. It’s good news but it’s not saying I’m going to be back out there with the guys anytime soon,” said Lupul, who began his career with the Ducks, was traded to Edmonton in the Chris Pronger deal and was later traded to Philadelphia, which sent him back to Anaheim to get Pronger in June 2009.

“Just to get back and start conditioning myself, I’m just really, really looking forward to it.”

Lupul had his first operation, on a herniated disc, on Dec. 17 after scoring 10 goals in 23 games. He required a second procedure a few weeks later and developed the infection after that.

He started working out this summer but severe back pain sent him to the doctor again. Blood tests showed a return of the infection, which required three antibiotics.

“Two or three weeks into the treatment I started feeling a lot better, like my old self again,” he said. “There have just been so many steps in this. 

“After the original surgery I hoped to be back in six to eight weeks. Here we are 10 months later. It’s been tough but it’s one of those things where you’ve got to keep a positive attitude, and at least today I got a little bit of good news.”

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Joffrey Lupul in 2006 during his first tour with Anaheim. Credit: Los Angeles Times