"Add the Anaheim Ducks to a growing list of teams having more than passing interest in Kevin Bieksa.

After trading defenceman Steve Eminger to the New York Rangers on Friday — and losing Scott Niedermayer to retirement — the Ducks are down to Lumobir Visnovsky, James Wisniewski, Sheldon Brookbank and Tony Lydman as proven NHL blueliners. General manager Bob Murray wants to add a top-four defenceman and you can start the debate now whether a healthy and productive Bieksa can fill that role.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle has a history with Bieksa. He was bench boss of the Manitoba Moose in 2004-05 when a feisty Bieksa collected 39 points (12-27) in 80 games, was a plus-21 and had 192 penalty minutes. And Carlyle isn't the only one wondering if Bieksa can revert to his 2006-07 form when he had 42 points (12-30) in 81 NHL games and piled up 134 intimidating penalty minutes before skate lacerations in two of the next three seasons severely affected his ability to live up to a three-year contract extension."