Mara Puts 'D' in Ducks, Lydman Seeing Double

  The Anaheim Ducks have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent defenseman Paul Mara. The 11 year veteran will earn $750,000 with the club this year and help fill some of the void on the back end for the team.

  Also, general manager Bob Murray has stated that recent signee Toni Lydman will miss the start of camp with a reported ‘double vision’ issue last week. Lydman has been undergoing a variety of tests and has been cleared from any major medical concerns, but the episodes have still not been diagnosed.

"Ever since that day, he's been having tests," Murray said. "Everything that's been coming back, he hasn't had what they're testing for."

  The club will play it cautious ahead of this season as the 32 year-old 9 year pro will likely not need that much warming up. Lydman signed a 3 year contract with the Ducks on July 1st, joining fellow Finns’ Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. His absence is hopefully short term as the Ducks were already stretching it thin on the blue line.

  Paul Mara is a welcomed addition that Bob Murray has been clear is in no way related to Lydman’s current (and unexplained) medical status.

  Mara is a solid offensive (minded) defenseman that can skate well and play the puck. In his 11 NHL seasons he has played for Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Boston, New York (Rangers), and Montreal. He played 42 games for the Canadiens posting 8 assists and a -16 rating before suffering a season ending shoulder injury last year.

"I just want to bring a veteran defensive presence to this team, and eventually help this team win a Stanley Cup," Mara said. "It offered the best place for me as a hockey player and the best chance to win. It seemed like a great fit and a great place to be."

  Last season was arguably one of his worst, but the signing is a really great deal in terms of dollars spent versus what they’re actually gaining on defense. In 681 games he has 63 goals, 184 assists, 688 penalty minutes, and a lowly -111 rating.

  Mara joins up with recent newcomers Toni Lydman, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Andy Sutton in Anaheim’s effort to restore the loss of defense over the past year. Anaheim’s road to rebuilding the blue line has been tough considering players such as Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, and Francois Beauchemin are tough skates to fill.

- Kendall Grubbs