Ducks’ Lydman undergoing tests on double vision; Paul Mara a timely addition

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Toni Lydman’s bout with acute double vision last week was not the result of a head injury, but the Finnish defenseman has had migraines in the past and doctors are checking into that as a possible cause of his problem, Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said Thursday after announcing that Lydman won’t be ready when the Ducks open training camp Saturday at Anaheim Ice.

Lydman, signed to a three-year, $9-million contract in July, skated with other veteran players last week and was eating lunch with them when he began to feel ill and experience double vision. He called Teemu Selanne, who called the team doctor.

‘They’ve been doing tests ever since,’ Murray said.

Several possible reasons for his difficulty have been ruled out, but Lydman won’t be allowed to participate in camp until a cause is identified and he’s treated. Murray said Lydman didn’t fall or sustain a head injury while on the ice the day he fell ill.

Murray also said he had been considering signing Paul Mara before Lydman became unavailable for at least the early part of camp. The team brought Mara in to Anaheim last week to check on Mara’s shoulder, which was surgically repaired in March after he tore the labrum.

Mara, 31, who signed a one-year, $750,000 deal, said he wants to ‘come in and bring a veteran defenseman presence to this team and help this team to the playoffs and eventually win a Stanley Cup.’

In addition, the Ducks signed forward Stephane Veilleux to a professional tryout contract. ‘We’ve always thought he’s a very good penalty killer and he’s always competed very hard,’ Murray said. ‘We’ve always liked him here. He’s had a little bit of a shoulder problem, too, and he’s coming off of that. We’ve liked him in kind of hard-working, penalty-killing role. Energy.’

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott