Ducks Acquire Defenseman O’Sullivan

The Mighty Ducks signed Chris O’Sullivan, a free-agent defenseman from the Vancouver Canucks, to a one-year deal Thursday. O’Sullivan, 26, had five assists in 11 games for the Canucks last season. He also had 18 goals and 65 points in 59 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.

“He gives us a different kind of depth,” said Pierre Gauthier, Duck president and general manager, referring to O’Sullivan’s offensive style of play. “He’s going to challenge for a job.”

O’Sullivan, who is 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, is the 14th new player acquired by Gauthier since the Ducks finished last in the Pacific Division and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Among the significant free agents Gauthier has signed this summer are center German Titov and tough-guy Jim Cummins.

Next on Gauthier’s summer to-do list is re-signing free agents Marc Chouinard, Matt Cullen, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mike Leclerc, Marty McInnis and Oleg Tverdovsky by the opening of training camp Sept. 7. The six have until July 31 to accept the Ducks’ qualifying offer of a one-season contract at their 1999-2000 salary.

Duck free agents Antti Aalto, Ladislav Kohn and Patrick Traverse have filed for arbitration and their cases will be resolved by Aug. 15.

Gauthier didn’t rule out further free-agent signings or trades. “We’ll listen [to offers],” he said. “But the next stage is to sign our own players.”