Free agent forward Joel Ward has signed a Professional Tryout deal with the Montreal Canadiens and has been invited to training camp. Ward spent last season with the San Jose Sharks.
The Canadiens have invited forward Joel Ward to take part in their training camp on a professional tryout.
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— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 14, 2018
The Montreal Canadiens Sign Free Agent Joel Ward to a PTO
In Ward, the Habs get a veteran winger with plenty of playoff experience. Last season, he scored five goals and seven assists for twelve points. He also added 20 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 48.4 percent Corsi-for and a relative Corsi of -3.4 percent. Those totals are near career lows for Ward and down from the 2016-17 season where he scored 10 goals, and 19 assists for 29 points.
His career Corsi-for is 48.7 percent and relative Corsi of -2.6. Over his 11-year NHL career, Ward has played for the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and the Sharks. He has put up 133 goals and 171 assists for 304 career points in 726 career games. Ward has added 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 8e career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He went undrafted and was signed by the Wild in 2006.
What This Means for the Future
At 37 years of age, Ward may not have many more NHL seasons to look forward to. The Sharks did not use Ward much last season. He averaged under 12 minutes a game. As one of the older teams in the NHL, the Sharks allowed Ward to leave and looked to inject some youth into this year’s club.
Ward can be a steady, if declining, two-way forward. With 83 playoff games under his belt, he’ll bring experience to the Habs if he can make the roster. And with 52 career playoff points, the Habs will be hoping Ward can chip in the odd goal as well.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
SAN JOSE, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Joel Ward #42 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center on February 8, 2018, in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
