Avalanche buy out Beauchemin's contract

Francois Beauchemin's days in Colorado are over.

The Avalanche are buying out the final season of the veteran defenseman's contract.

Beauchemin was originally on the books for $4.5 million in 2017-18, in what was to be the third season of the three-year pact he signed as a free agent on July 1, 2015.

The move wasn't financially motivated, because that amount will count against the cap regardless.

There was speculation that Beauchemin refused to waive his no-movement clause after being asked to do so by the club ahead of the expansion draft, but the blue-liner's agent, Bob Sauve, insisted that never happened when asked by TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Sauve said Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic called Beauchemin Wednesday night to tell him about the buyout, explaining it was about the team getting younger.

The 37-year-old collected 18 points in 81 games this past season, logging the third-most average ice time on the Avalanche at 21:30.