Forward Joel Ward has decided where he’ll take his talents to, inking a 3 year deal with the San Jose Sharks, worth 3.275 million AAV. Ward leaves the Washington Capitals and was made expendable by the acquisitions of T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams.
The San Jose Sharks have signed Joel Ward to a 3-year contract. http://t.co/pFwB0FEoR6 pic.twitter.com/V7ob8Bd68s
— theScore (@theScore) July 3, 2015
At the age of 34, Joel Ward is one late-bloomer that is garnering a lot of attention. Scoring 19 goals last season, Ward has the flexibility to play on any line and fit into any role. He will bring that roster flexibility to Peter Deboer as he experiments in his first year coaching the Sharks.
Ward has been an essential key to Washington’s past four seasons, missing a combined 18 games. Coming off a career-year of 24 goals and 25 assists, Ward averaged 16:53 of ice-time the following season, which was his highest TOI since joining the Capitals. His hard-nosed brand of hockey made him an asset on any line, whether the Capitals needed some heavy forechecking and defending, or a big goal while playing on the top line. Playing a power game, his shooting percentage has remained above 10% over the last three seasons, his peak coming two years ago during his 24-goal season, where he put up a shooting percentage of 18%.
Ward’s Corsi% was up from last season, improving from 47.7 to 50, but it goes hand-in-hand with his deployment in zone starts, as he got more offensive-zone starts than last year, going from 49.8 to 51.6. What’s most impressive however is that in the playoffs, Ward started more in the defensive zone, 50.5, and his Corsi% soared to 57.8. Granted this is in a 14-game sample size, but during elevated play in the post-season, it’s remarkable on its own merit. Ward has been known for scoring a number of big goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over his career.
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