Blackhawks lock up backup goaltender with signing of Cam Ward
The Blackhawks secured their backup goaltender for next season by officially inking Cam Ward to a one-year deal on Sunday. It's reportedly worth $3 million and includes a full no-trade clause, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie .
It was the first signing of the day for the Blackhawks, which shows you just how much they prioritized that position this offseason.
Ward is coming off a season in which he compiled a 23-14-4 record with a 2.73 goals against average, .906 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 appearances with the Carolina Hurricanes .
The 34-year-old netminder has started at least 40 games in 10 of his 14 NHL seasons, so he's certainly capable of handling a heavy workload if needed. And with the uncertainty regarding Corey Crawford - despite the team's consistent belief he'll be ready by training camp - it's not out of the question.
Ward hasn't played in the postseason since 2009, but did win a Stanley Cup with Carolina as a rookie in 2006 and won the Conn Smythe.
His underlying numbers haven't been great towards the latter stages of his career, though.
Over the last five seasons , Ward's goals saved above average - a metric that measures goals allowed below the expectation based on shot danger faced - at even strength is minus-40.73, according to corsicahockey.com. That ranks dead last out of the 165 eligible goaltenders during that span.
Sure, there may have been better options on the market. But Carter Hutton is heading to Buffalo to become a starter and is getting paid like it (three years, $2.75 per year). Jonathan Bernier has higher upside, but he battled three separate injuries over the final two months of last season, one of which was a concussion, so there's too much risk there for a Blackhawks team that can't afford to go through that kind of situation again at the goaltending position.
And if there was real concern about Crawford's health, the Blackhawks likely would've signed somebody for more than a year. This tells us they merely want to make sure their backup is capable of starting 30 games or so and can give the Blackhawks a chance to win on Crawford's off days.
In a limited role and less pressure to perform on a starter-type contract, Ward could be a decent fit for the Blackhawks while Collin Delia and Anton Forsberg continue to develop in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs.
