After the initial flurry of NHL free-agent signings had subsided, the Ducks dipped into the market in attempts to address the club's void in the middle of its second line and increase blue-line depth.

Anaheim took a shot at accomplishing the former objective by signing ex-Vancouver Canucks center Brendan Morrison to a one-year, $2.75 million contract on July 8, and lured veteran defenseman Steve Montador away from the Florida Panthers three days later.

Morrison, who will turn 33 in August, appears to be exactly what the Ducks need, as long as he can remain healthy. Morrison sat out 38 games following wrist surgery midway through last season and had his campaign end prematurely when a March 26 collision with former Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei of the Colorado Avalanche necessitated surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

"We've looked at medical reports," Anaheim general manager Brian Burke said. "We believe he'll be ready for training camp, but if he's not, he'll be ready for the season. We're not worried about this. He has been a very durable player in his career until the last 12 months."

Indeed, Morrison was the NHL's reigning iron man, having appeared in 542 consecutive games before a tendon problem in his right wrist forced him to miss a Dec. 12 game against the Ducks at Honda Center.

The surgeries were the third and fourth in just more than two years for Morrison, who underwent a hip operation at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season and sports-hernia surgery a year later.

"I think I'm right on schedule for camp," Morrison said. "I intend to start skating in mid-August. I foresee being ready for camp. If I do have some kind of setback, that might change, but I don't foresee anything like that happening right now.

Morrison received interest from nine NHL teams, some of which were willing to offer him two years.

"I elected to take this one-year deal, come back and prove what kind of player I can be," Morrison said. "I know it could potentially be risky. The easy thing to do would be sign a multi-year deal and not really have to worry about anything. I think this puts a little bit of pressure on myself to come in and play well, and I'm embracing that challenge."

Montador, lured to Anaheim by the opportunity to play a significant role on a contending team, agreed to a one-year deal worth $800,000.

Montador, 28, is coming off the best season of an NHL career that began with the Calgary Flames in 2001-02. With an average ice time of 11 minutes, 39 seconds in 73 games with Florida, Montador established career-high totals with eight goals and 23 points. He had a plus-1 mark with 73 penalty minutes.

"I thought Anaheim was the best place for me, based on the team that's already there, the opportunity for winning, and the history and reputation that Anaheim has started," Montador said. "I am super-excited to be a part of it."

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