Ducks Sign an Enforcer to Take Grimson’s Place

Looking to toughen up their lineup, the Mighty Ducks signed right wing Jim Cummins Wednesday.

Cummins, who played with Montreal last season, agreed to a one-year deal worth $500,000. The team also has a one-year option at $500,000.

He did not score a goal last season and has only 15 goals with six teams in an NHL career that began with Detroit in 1991-92. But it is not how Cummins handles the puck that makes him attractive to Anaheim. Rather, it’s how he handles himself, and manhandles others.

His arrival ends Stu Grimson’s two-season stint with the Ducks. Grimson made $500,000 last season and is an unrestricted free agent. Gauthier said Grimson will not return.

Cummins, who is 6 feet 2 and 219 pounds, will take over enforcer responsibilities.

“He’s a big guy, who brings a physical presence,” Duck General Manager Pierre Gauthier said of Cummins. “But he also has speed and can go up and down the ice, and he can check.”

Cummins, 30, racked up 92 penalty minutes in 45 games last season. He averaged 199 penalty minutes in the previous four seasons, including 225 in 75 games with Chicago and Phoenix in 1997-98.

Gauthier has busied himself during the off-season trying to improve a team that was picked to make the Stanley Cup playoffs last season but finished last in the Pacific Division.

This is the second free-agent signing for the Ducks, who added center German Titov on Saturday, the first day teams were allowed to talk with free agents.

The Ducks picked up five players between the end of the season and the June 23 expansion draft. They acquired defenseman Patrick Traverse and goalie John-Sebastien Giguere in trades. They also signed right wing Petr Tenkrat and defenseman Antti-Jussi Niemi, both of whom played in Europe, and center Andy McDonald, a Hobey Baker finalist at Colgate last season.