A SERIOUS DEBATE: Cam Ward . . .

[bluedevil58*]

Just a hot streak or has he found a new game with using the stick? What say you?


Discuss!

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[Anton Dubinchuk]

Screw it. I'm optimistic. I forgot how much fun actually liking this team is.

He's back. He won't play this well for the rest of the year but the Cam of the last two years is gone, and the old one is back.

*ChuckW morphs into a unicorn and I ride on his back into a cloud*

 

[What the Faulk]

When looking at the difference between unadjusted and adjusted save percentage this year, Ward's actually rises by a full percentage point, best in the NHL. Of course, we are dealing with miniscule sample sizes, but it shows that he's played even better than his numbers indicate.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

he has looked vastly more comfortable in goal than i remember since he injured his back in the playoffs in 2009

 

[RodTheBawd]

He's back! Until he lets in a "softie" that ALL elite goaltenders would stop every single time.

 

[DaveG]

he has looked vastly more comfortable in goal than i remember since he injured his back in the playoffs in 2009

Bingo. He's letting the game come to him again, he's not fighting it like he seemed to be doing for a while. This is by far the best I've seen him play since we had Barrasso as our goalie coach. And yes, I honestly do think the difference is the goalie coach.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Bingo. He's letting the game come to him again, he's not fighting it like he seemed to be doing for a while. This is by far the best I've seen him play since we had Barrasso as our goalie coach. And yes, I honestly do think the difference is the goalie coach.

As do I.

 

[Unsustainable]

He looks like pre 09 injury Cam.

If so, saddle up.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

He's just on an unsustainable hot streak. We still should kill him.

 

[Joe McGrath]

He's made a lot of plays with his stick that have saved goals. Plays that previously he wasn't making. That's a big deal. As we've seen in the past, getting Cam on a roll and into s rhythm is paramount to his success. The temptation to overwork him is what follies though. Hopefully they give Khudobin the San Jose game. The Bruins feast on rebounds so that would be a bad matchup for sure.

 

[DaveG]

Not to mention Dobby played there for a while recently so they'll have a good knowledge of his tendencies and how to exploit them.

That and Ward has, at least in the past, had a reputation as being a Bruins killer.

 

[dogbazinho]

Trade him.

 

[bluedevil58*]

Trade him.

 

[Wolfpuck]

He's actually played like a $6.3 million goalie the past 5 games.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I really hope he's found his game again. For all the **** he got on this board (and among other fanbases), I can tell you no one was harder on Ward than Ward himself during that stretch of poor play.

We've all seen what confidence (or lack thereof) can do to a player. He's riding high right now, and he mentioned after last night's game that he was "having fun" again.

If Khudobin can rebound (Ha. Puns.), Carolina might have a 1A/1B tandem we've long since desired

 

[w e l o s t b o y s]

he is ELITE

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Man, we are all giving one another one hell of a reacharound for a seventh place team.

 

[dogbazinho]

Man, we are all giving one another one hell of a reacharound for a seventh place team.

You just wait till he returns a 2nd. Reacharounds for everyone! Francis sorta screwed up letting people get hope. Can't trade him now or he sends an inconsistent message. We wait for the inevitable return to **** and pray.

 

[nobuddy]

Rah rah rah go hcanes

Estaalo top five center

Kevnhendson top five smile

Camwardo top five goalie

Go team go

 

[Ole Gil]

When looking at the difference between unadjusted and adjusted save percentage this year, Ward's actually rises by a full percentage point, best in the NHL. Of course, we are dealing with miniscule sample sizes, but it shows that he's played even better than his numbers indicate.

The adjust save% is interesting. I like it a lot for the low and medium zones. But for in close, it seems like the quality of shot is so varied and would depend heavily on style of play and defensive skill.

It'd be interesting to see if teams that play attacking hockey have worse save% in the high quality zones compared to teams that focus on clogging up the neutral zone.

 

[Francis10]

I still say trade him. Glad he is playing well again, but now is the time to unload that contract.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I still say trade him. Glad he is playing well again, but now is the time to unload that contract.

I highly doubt anybody is going to take on his contract because of 5 good games, especially at this point in the season. There are only about a dozen or so teams that could even take on his contract and most of those teams don't want/need a $6.3M goalie.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

I still say trade him. Glad he is playing well again, but now is the time to unload that contract.

or we could light him on fire

 

[tarheelhockey]

He's been solid. Let's not get carried away. This needs to stretch across more than a couple of weeks before it counts as a comeback.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

You guys need to all put your LaRose colored glasses away