Capitals Sign Joel Ward
 

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed right wing Joel Ward to a four-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Ward, 30, recorded 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in 80 games last season with the Nashville Predators. He ranked second among Nashville forwards in blocked shots (57), third in takeaways (51) and fourth in hits (67). In addition, Ward led the Predators in goals (7), assists (6) and points (13) in 12 games during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. He recorded a point in nine of Nashville’s 12 postseason games (including four straight).

During the 2009-10 season, Ward set a career-high in assists (21) and posted personal bests in shots (134) and average ice time. The North York, Ontario native scored a career-high 17 goals and added 18 assists during the 2008-09 season with Nashville. He tied for fourth on the club in goals and ranked third in shooting percentage (12.8%). He was one of three Predators to notch multiple shorthanded goals (2) and was tied for eighth among NHL forwards in blocked shots (69).

Ward, a 6’1’’, 218-pound forward, has appeared in 241 career NHL games with Minnesota and Nashville, posting 99 points (40 goals, 59 assists) and 89 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 18 career postseason games with the Predators, collecting 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) and eight penalty minutes.

As brilliant as GMGM may be for the Varlamov deal, he way overpaid for Ward.

Great in the playoffs.

Virtually invisible before them. 3 mil for 4 years is too much.

Unreal. The Caps just keep throwing money at all sorts of people.

Am I the only one who finds this contract kind of high?

Kopecky getting 3 mil per year has really skewed the market it seems.

Agree completely (see my 2nd post). Way too much.

What exactly has Ward done to earn $3 million a year? One good playoff performance shouldn't be nearly enough.

Oh well, at least they now have another black guy they can market to D.C. fans...

ya'll obviously didn't read the fine print on this one

ted made this signing for the Wizards, NOT the Caps

yeesh

Maybe Obama will finally come out to a Caps game now...

with such a weak ass crop of free agents, someone was bound to give too much money to a bunch of very average players... Joel Ward qualifies in this case, yeesh

We're gonna let Bradley walk so we can sign this guy...and Caps fans wonder why this team cant win a cup.