Rumor: Chicago may be working on deal with Cam Ward

[HawkeyFanatic]

Jay Zawaski
@JayZawaski670
As I reported in last night's @MadhousePod, the Blackhawks are interested in former Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward. I'm told this morning, from a separate source, that an agreement may already be in the works/close. Ward, 34, had a 2.74 GAA and .906 save percentage in 43 games w/ CAR

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[Blackhawkswincup]

I don't think we need a new thread for this given talk in the offseason thread

New thread should be for when he signs

 

[HjamSandwich]

There are threads on the 1st page from a week ago. Why would you merge this thread?

 

[ChiHawks10]

There are threads on the 1st page from a week ago. Why would you merge this thread?

Because there was already discussion about this going on in another thread? And the new thread might as well wait until he signs... if he does.

 

[puterwiz53]

There has to be better options out there as there is no guarantee how many games Crow will be able play if any. He may very well be just one more injury away from retirement. There isn't even any guarantee how well he will be able to play if he does come back. To me it is totally wrong for management to keep the fans in the dark like this and especially with the cost of tickets going up. Even if Crow is healthy, probably the best time to move him to another team if possible which frees up money for a decent goalie for one or two years until one of the rookies are ready to take over.

 

[Kevin Musto]

 

[HawksFan37]

Not a fan of tying up $2.5M in Ward, but at least it's only 1 year.

 

[featherhawk]

2.5 million is ridiculous for Ward at this stage of his career.

terrible if true

 

[BobbyJet]

/\ desperation dictates overpaying, unfortunately. Besides, Stan doesn't know how to play hardball with any player it seems.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Yeah, definitely don't like 2.5m for even just one year...

 

[featherhawk]

/\ desperation dictates overpaying, unfortunately. Besides, Stan doesn't know how to play hardball with any player it seems.

yes and the lack of hardball from Stan is becoming more of a problem every year it seems.

 

[puterwiz53]

The thing is, how true is this. Ward is fa is he not? Cannot sign FAs until Sunday and I can't see Bowman letting anything out of the bag until a deal is finalized.

 

[Rick C137]

At least that means we probably won’t overspend on a UFA on a 7 year contract. Silver linings friends.

Would rather overspend by a mil for a bad backup for 1 year than overspend by more than a mil for 7 years on one of the UFAs on the market.

 

[u2wojo]

At least that means we probably won’t overspend on a UFA on a 7 year contract. Silver linings friends.

Would rather overspend by a mil for a bad backup for 1 year than overspend by more than a mil for 7 years on one of the UFAs on the market.

Until the Hossa trade with a first round pick for a 7th is announced

 

[ClydeLee]

At least that means we probably won’t overspend on a UFA on a 7 year contract. Silver linings friends.

Would rather overspend by a mil for a bad backup for 1 year than overspend by more than a mil for 7 years on one of the UFAs on the market.

I had the same thought

 

[BK]

I am not a fan of Ward but I guess I get wanting a vet (don't agree). .5 to 1 mill over payment, cost to get him to move?

 

[BobbyJet]

I had the same thought

I've lost track. How much cap space do Hawks have remaining?

Cap friendly says $9,225,705. Not sure how accurate that is.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Ward does have special needs child that requires assistance so that could also be part of why 2.5M figure if true to convince him to depart Raleigh/Durham area

It would be overpayment by 500k IMO but not end of world and is usual Bowman overpay (He can never seem to not overpay even a little UFA's or RFA's)

 

[BK]

Ward does have special needs child that requires assistance so that could also be part of why 2.5M figure if true to convince him to depart Raleigh/Durham area

I believe his son is deaf and they are really close in regards to hockey (there was a players trib about it; warning the article can possible make your computer or phone cut onions).

 

[CallMeShaft]

Small overpayment, but it's for a year. Ward seems to simply be a guy Bowman is betting on being able to help stabilize our back end for 30-40 games for this season, buying time for one of Delia, Lankinen, or Nalimov to emerge as an option for 19-20.

It's not the worst thing in the world and I do get a kick out of BWC loving this deal.

 

[HeisenBaez]

As long as this is now Turco 2.0, I am fine with it. No back up goalie available as a FA is going to save the Hawks season if Corey cannot play (or give the Hawks 55+ games).

 

[Kurtosis]

If the goal is to tank for Hughes they’re off to a good start.

 

[ClydeLee]

Small overpayment, but it's for a year. Ward seems to simply be a guy Bowman is betting on being able to help stabilize our back end for 30-40 games for this season, buying time for one of Delia, Lankinen, or Nalimov to emerge as an option for 19-20.

It's not the worst thing in the world and I do get a kick out of BWC loving this deal.

I'm curious what Nalimovs situation will be. Before the recent claim he wants to come over now and have an open spot, a 1 year vet with potential for him next year is exactly what I wanted. I'm just unsure where he'll play or if Stan will trade him.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I guess Stan and Co. propritized experience and Bernier and Hutton are getting multi year deals, so they went with Ward for a higher AAV to keep it at one year.

Maybe Ward wanted a lower AAV for 2 years to finish out his career, have to move his family again etc, Stan wanted one so they paid up.

That said, I think they should have signed Mrazek for cheap and went into camp with him, Forsberg and Delia battling for the 2G spot.

Not a good way to spend cap money, but, lets be honest, nothing ever really is money well spent in that market unless its Hossa.

 

[featherhawk]

/\

I totally agree they should have signed Mrazek and had a battle for 2C.
Ward does nothing for the hawks growth as a team