Ducks Re-Sign Defenseman Wisniewski to One-Year Contract

The Anaheim Ducks announced last Monday that they have re-signed defenseman James Wisniewski to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million, thus avoiding salary arbitration with the young defenseman. Wisniewski was one of 20 players who had filed for arbitration earlier in July. He started last season with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2009 trade deadline with forward Petri Kontiola in exchange for center Sami Pahlsson, defenseman Logan Stephanson, and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. In 48 games with the Ducks and Blackhawks, he scored three goals and 21 assists for 24 points. Wisniewski missed the first 28 games of the 2008-09 season recovering from right knee surgery. In 185 career games with the Ducks and Blackhawks, he has 14 goals and 53 assists for 67 points and 208 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Ducks, as Wisniewski has lots of potential to become a top-four defenseman in the league. He has great offensive skill on the blueline, especially on the power play, and plays with lots of grit and toughness. Hopefully the Ducks can get him locked up long term next summer, as he could end up being a decent replacement for the recently traded Chris Pronger.