Aaron Ward Traded to the Hurricanes

Former Boston Bruins defenceman Aaron Ward insists that there won’t be any awkwardness or hard feelings when he sees Scott Walker in training camp. This 36 year-old who posted a +16 rating in 65 regular season games in Boston this past season was traded on Friday back to the Carolina Hurricanes where he won the Stanley Cup back in 2006. The one lingering memory fans have from what was an intense Eastern Conference Semi Finals last spring between these two teams was Ward being punched out cold in game five by Walker. “Tell him I still have practice—I’ll get him back at practice,” Ward said with a smile. “It’s water under the bridge. I’m on his team now. … There’s a lot of emotion in the playoffs, both in the media and playing the game.” Ward who was drafted first round by the Winnipeg Jets back in 1991 played for Carolina starting in 2001/02 season until signing as a free agent with the New York Rangers following the Canes Stanley Cup triumph. On February 27, after playing only 60 games Ward was traded to the Bruins where he began a two and a half year stint that saw him score nine goals and 17 assists and a +17 rating. “With this trade, our defence really takes shape,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. “We envision him complementing Joni Pitkanen well as a defensive pairing.” This move comes only nine days after Ward expressed excitement towards playing this year’s outdoor game at Fenway Park against the Philadelphia Flyers. Ward who was on the golf course when finally contracted about the trade called it “A complete surprise.” Ward who lives in the Raleigh area has skating with veteran Hurricanes team captain Rod Brind’Amour.