TORONTO - The Maple Leafs have traded veteran defenceman Francois Beauchemin to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right-winger Joffrey Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013.
Beauchemin, 30, spent parts of four seasons with the Ducks before signing as a free agent with Toronto in 2009. He has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 54 games this season.
"We are thrilled to be able to reacquire Francois," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a release Wednesday. "He is a physical, puck-moving defenceman with tremendous character. We would also like to wish Joffrey Lupul well in Toronto. He's worked very hard to return from a serious ailment and we hope he can get his career back on track."
Lupul, 27, has 13 points (5-8) in 26 games this season. He missed part of the season after sitting out for nearly a year with a back injury and subsequent blood infection.
Lupul has 238 points (117-121) in 421 career regular-season games with Anaheim, Philadelphia and Edmonton. He has 23 points (14-9) in 39 career playoff games.
Beauchemin has 128 points (28-100) in 382 career regular-season games with Toronto, Anaheim, Columbus and Montreal. He has 18 points (8-10) in 55 career playoff games -- all with Anaheim -- and played a key role in the Ducks' Stanley Cup victory in 2007.
Gardiner, a 20-year-old defenceman, has 30 points (7-23) in 30 games for the Badgers this season. Leafs general manager Brian Burke drafted Gardiner in 2008 when he was GM of the Ducks.
Gardiner advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game in his sophomore season at Wisconsin last year. He has 64 points (16-48) and 58 penalty minutes in 110 career games for the Badgers.
