When George McPhee signed Joel Ward to a four-year, $12-million deal, many thought it was an exorbitant contract based on a playoff performance he’d never live up to. But then, he sorta did.
By the Numbers
| 82 | Games played |
| 16:52 | Average time on ice per game |
| 19 | Goals |
| 15 | Assists |
| 50.8% | Shot attempt percentage during 5v5 |
| 57.9% | Goal percentage during 5v5 |
Ward’s on-ice shot-attempt percentage in 10-game running segments, according to War on Ice:
Peter’s Take
Joel Ward is Washington’s secondary scoring. Like: he’s it. With the second line too unstable to produce, it fell to Ward– mainstay right wing of the third line– to give the Caps more bite. Ward did just that with 19 goals and 15 assists– 25 points during 5v5 alone.
I think that speaks to Ward’s adeptness as a finisher. He’s a sturdy guy, and he reliably drives to the net. When paired with strong possession players (which Ward is not), he can be a terrific force. He went from a 49-percent player to a 58-percent player with Backstrom and Ovechkin during the regular season (just 85 shot attempts total and 0 goals for the Caps), signaling the potential for some genuine chemistry for the late season and playoffs once given the right teammates and opportunity. (For the record, Ward spent most of the season on the third line with Eric Fehr, who did noticeably better apart from Ward.)
With a decently sized but almost certainly short term (Ward turns 35 in December) contract looming, there’s a chance that Ward could continue to put up big points– and even some super-precious clutch points– in his next posting, but I doubt that will be in Washington. With an impressive crop of young forwards on the farm and in the lineup, I doubt Brian and Barry will allocate 3 million dollars and 16 minutes of ice to Wardo. It’s a sadness, but maybe a necessary one.
The Big Cheese on RMNB
- BMac sounded optimistic about re-signing Ward, but of course he was. Nested in those words was some scrutable savvy as well: “I think there is a deterioration no matter how much mileage you have on you. Term’s going to be an issue going forward. If we can work in a good number and we feel that Joel can continue to play at the level he’s playing at, we’ll work it out.”
- Yeah, Wardo was a monster in the playoffs again. Ward had a reputation as a clutch playoff player, which seems silly to rational people, but dag nam it, the guy keeps doing it. Big playoff goals! Last-second ame-winning goals! Game-seven goals!
- And yet, the most important play was that didn’t count. And it should have. And the same play has counted as a goal in other circumstances.
- When Ward got promoted to the top line late in the season, he reported having choice words for Alex Ovechkin: “”I congratulated O on getting the chance to play with me. He earned it.”
- In early March, we were abuzz with rumors of a possible trade for Patrick Sharp. It didn’t happen. Elliotte Friedman thinks Chicago’s purported request for Joel Ward is what nuked the deal.
- This photoshop happened.
- Pat was fascinated by Ward’s career trajectory. If there’s a falloff coming, well, it hasn’t happened yet.
- I like Ward’s style. At the end of October he got demoted to the fourth line, so he scored two goals, like this one:
- Finally, CSN had a great series of videos interviewing the twins. They’re great together.
Your Turn
You wanna see more Joel Ward? I’ll be honest– I wouldn’t mind a one-year deal for two mil, if he’d take it, which he wouldn’t. Flip side of the coin: what happens when he signs somewhere else in the conference and then you run into his big clutch ass in late May?
Read more: Japers Rink
