The AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights are about to fill their head-coaching vacancy with a very familiar face.
According to hockey insider Jeff Marek, Joel Ward, a fan favorite with the Washington Capitals during his playing days, is set to man a bench for the first time in his coaching career. Ward, formerly an assistant coach for Henderson, has been an assistant in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights for the past three years.
Ward played his final season in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks in 2017-18 and then officially announced his retirement in April of 2020. He quickly transitioned to coaching, joining Henderson’s staff for the 2020-21 campaign. He spent three seasons under head coach Emanuel Viveiros before being promoted to the NHL.
The Silver Knights have an opening after their parent club, the Golden Knights, did not retain head coach John Tortorella after losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes. Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon promoted Ryan Craig from Henderson’s bench, giving him his first-ever NHL head-coaching job.
Henderson finished third in the AHL’s Pacific Division last season with a 39-21-12 record. They beat the San Jose Barracuda in the first round of the playoffs and then fell to the Colorado Eagles in the next round. The postseason appearance was their first since 2022 and their deepest run since their inaugural 2020-21 campaign.
During his 11-year NHL career with the Capitals, Sharks, Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators, Ward recorded 304 points (133g, 171a) in 726 games. He set his career-high in goals (24) and points (49) with Washington during the 2013-14 season.
