Defenseman Toni Lydman will miss the start of training camp with an acute episode of double vision. According to the team, he experienced the symptoms last week and has since undergone a battery of tests which have ruled out most major medical concerns but have not identified the problem.
Lydman is still experiencing some slight residual symptoms and will not be able to train or skate until the problem is diagnosed and a series of medical tests are complete.
“Toni is feeling much better this week,” general manager Bob Murray said in a statement.
The Ducks also signed free agent defenseman Paul Mara to a one-way, $750,000 contract. Murray had been pursuing Mara since July, and the timing of the signing works out well for both sides.
The 31-year-old Mara has a nice resume but is coming off a torn labrum that ended his 2009-10 season in January. In 42 games with the Montreal Canadiens, he had no goals, eight assists and a minus-16 rating. Mara had surgery in March and passed a physical exam with team doctors Tuesday.
Mara, Stephane Veilleux and a lucky list of 16 rookie campers have been added to the main training camp roster. They are:
FORWARDS:
Nick Bonino – C
Rob Bordson – LW
Nicolas Deschamps – LW
Emerson Etem – RW
Peter Holland – C
Maxime Macenauer – C
Brandon McMillan – LW
Kyle Palmieri – RW
Devante Smith-Pelly – RW
Stephane Veilleux – LW
DEFENSEMEN
Mat Clark
Cam Fowler
Paul Mara
Mark Mitera
Jake Newton
Scott Valentine
GOALTENDERS
Igor Bobkov
Timo Pielmeier
Veilleux filled a checking-line role with the Minnesota Wild from 2002-09 before going to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. The 28-year-old had three goals, nine points and 48 penalty minutes in 77 games for the Lightning; he has 46 goals, 99 points and 302 penalty minutes in an NHL career spanning 438 games. He will come to camp on a tryout basis.