Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward: NHL Trade Deadline Profile

Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward: Trade Deadline Profile

Born February 29th, 1984 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward was selected 25th overall (1st round) in 2002 from WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. A standout CHL goaltender, Cam accumulated 101 wins over a three-year span to close out his junior career.

He suited up for AHL’s Lowell Lock Monsters in 2004-05, going 27-17-3 with a 1.99GAA and .937 save percentage his AHL rookie season.

Cam Ward was promoted to the NHL in 2005-06, serving as backup to Martin Gerber. His NHL rookie season, Cam appeared in 28 games, going 14-8-2 with a 3.68GAA and .882 save percentage. Gerber appeared in 60 games, going 38-14-6 with a 2.78GAA and .906 save percentage.

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Rookie Cam Ward was given an opportunity after several poor performances by Martin Gerber early into the 2005-06 playoffs. He went 15-8-0 with a 2.14GAA and .920 save percentage en route to the Carolina Hurricanes 2006 Stanley Cup Championship, and Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP.

Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward has spent the last 10 seasons in Raleigh. He has a career record of 264-205-65 with a 2.70GAA and .910 save percentage. Ward has only managed to stay fully healthy in five of those seasons.

Carolina Hurricanes NHL Trade Deadline Outlook via Too Many Men,

He’s in the last year of a six-year deal carrying an annual cap hit of $6.3 million dollars. Over the course of his contract (2010-11 to present), Cam Ward has played 276 of a possible 433 games over the six-year span. That’s 63.74 percent of the entire franchise’s games over that period (46 starts on average per season).

Ward is arguably a top five, easily top 10 goaltender when fully healthy. The only problem – he doesn’t stay healthy long enough to establish that tag. The thought process of bringing in Eddie Lack suggests the Carolina Hurricanes were attempting to give themselves a second option, that would also allow Cam Ward extra rest. After suffering a couple more injuries this season, it’s starting to feel reminiscent of Kari Lehtonen in Dallas.

It’s unclear what type of interest teams may have in the summer for Cam Ward. His injury history negates any long-term contract for the 31-year-old goalie. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him sign a two-year $4-4.5 million dollar deal somewhere (which could include returning to Carolina).

Is there a market for Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward leading into the NHL Trade Deadline? In 41 games, Ward is 18-14-4 with a 2.37GAA and .908 save percentage (some of his best numbers since his early days with Carolina). It’s a hefty $6.3 million dollar cap hit – but the numbers are fairly insignificant at this time of the year (especially if Carolina is retaining salary).

Why would anyone want an overpaid injury-prone goaltender?

He’s on an expiring contract, in which Carolina can retain upwards of $3.15 million (50 percent).

Think of the role that both Chicago’s Scott Darling and Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy played in the 2014-15 NHL playoffs. Whether you’re a team on the playoff bubble with question marks in net, or have a backup struggling this season, you might need to consider an upgrade.

The market for rental goalies is admittedly weak (as it usually is). Don’t be surprised if Cam Ward is with Carolina for the remainder of 2015-16.

Best Fits:

Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins

Hypothetical Trade:

Carolina Hurricanes G Cam Ward to Arizona for G Niklas Treutle and 2017 2nd Round Pick

*max salary retained by Carolina

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