Ducks sign 6-foot-6 defenseman Andy Sutton

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Days after trading James Wisniewski to the New York Islanders, the Ducks on Monday signed 6-foot-6 defenseman Andy Sutton to a two-year contract that will pay him $2 million this season and $2.25 million in 2011-12.

Sutton, 35, appeared in 72 games with the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators last season, collecting five goals and 13 points. But here are the important stats: he finished the regular season ranked second among all NHL players with 204 blocked shots and eighth among NHL defensemen with 197 hits. At 245 pounds, Sutton’s hits pack a punch, and with his height, blocking shots became his specialty.

After losing Scott Niedermayer to retirement, the Ducks also were looking for a defenseman who could play a lot of minutes, and Sutton averaged 23:01 minutes of ice time during the 2010 playoffs with the Senators and played 20-or-more minutes 45 times during the regular season.

-- Debbie Goffa