Aaron Ward is goin' (back) to Carolina

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 24, 2009 5:04 PM EDT

Aaron Ward is heading back to the team that he spent 4 seasons with and the state he now calls home. In a move to dump salary, the Bruins traded the the veteran blueliner to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Patrick Eaves (who was later placed on waivers by the Bruins) and 4th round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. If Eaves doesn't clear waivers, the Bruins will take on a $258,333 cap hit. Ward was on the books for $2.5 million next season.The Bruins will free up either $2,241,667 or $2.5 million depending on whether or not anyone signs Patrick Eaves.

I knew that the Bruins would make somesort of move to clear up cap space, but I am surprised that they chose to move a defenseman. This leaves the Bruins with only 5 defenseman with real NHL experience. They are either banking on Johnny Boychuk or another prospect making the jump to the big club or they are thinking about shopping Phil Kessel for a premier defenseman.

I will hold off judgement on this deal until I see what Peter Chiarelli does with the cap space this creates.

I will miss Aaron Ward being a member of the Bruins. Besides bringing some toughness to the blueline, Ward seemed to be a great teammate and someone who meant a lot to the Bruins' room. I have to admit I am going to miss Ward Wednesdays on Toucher & Rich. No athlete gives a better radio interview than Aaron Ward.

It will interesting to see the "Caniacs" and clueless North Carolina media who bashed him after the Scott Walker sucker punch incident back pedal from their comments and embrace Ward like nothing happened. When asked about being teammates with Scott Walker, Ward said:

"I'll get him back in practice," Ward joked. "Those are things that happen during the game. It's water under the bridge. I'm on his team now."

- Aaron Ward about being teammates with Scott Walker via Boston.com

...Even still, it might not be a good idea for the Carolina Hurricanes to assign lockers by alphabetical order this year.

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I believe it was Ward who did the bashing...

by calling the media a bunch of sheep for accepting Walker and the Cane’s explanation. Who in the Raleigh media bashed Ward? Please tell me.
I remember Dan Shaughnessy saying without citation that Hurricanes fans treated Walker like he was a hero for the punch. I never heard or read that from anyone. I’m pretty sure your man Dan made that up.
Clueless media? This coming from a fan base associated with the aforementioned Phil Spector look-a-like, plus Jack Edwards and Bob Ryan. Glass houses, buddy.

by Sluv on Jul 24, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

“I remember Dan Shaughnessy saying without citation that Hurricanes fans treated Walker like he was a hero for the punch. I never heard or read that from anyone.”

You’re kidding. All you have to do is go over to Canes Country and search through the archives… hell, go over there NOW and read the comments having to do with the incident. It’s pretty clear that the Carolina fanbase has convinced itself that punching a guy straight in the face is within the bounds of hockey morality.

by bostonblueline.blogspot.com on Jul 24, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Just looked

Didn’t see any of that. Well, one poster did say that Ward’s comments to the media after the incident were petty and childish – which I would agree with. Is that what you are talking about?

by Sluv on Jul 29, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I just love to rile you guys up. I’ll find something for you. I’m sure your buddy DeCock or one of the other writers from that rag said something stupid about Ward during the playoffs.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 24, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Here you go. Luke DeCock compares the Bruins style of play to the WWE and blames Ward for baiting Walker and not defending himself. http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/decock/story/1523625.html

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 24, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha nice one. what a blowhard that guy is

I’ll definitely miss aaron and his interiews with T&R…even though toucher and rich totally SUCK, aaron ward is the only man that made that show slightly amusing.

I swear— if BCN still had opie and anthony they probably wouldn’t be closing their doors right now….

by delta on Jul 25, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Opie & Anthony are hacks.

Modern rock radio is a dying format. It would have happened no matter who was on. T&R’s time slot always did well in the ratings for their target demo. If anything, T&R keep them alive longer.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 25, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, they’re sorta hacks— but at least they were pretty funny and they had comedians come on and stuff. definitely ripping off howard stern, but I just liked their stances on things better.

nothing could save BCN, as you said….the only reason i dragged toucher and rich into it is because they kinda seemed like a rip off of O&A…..who are rip offs of Stern. What a vicious circle

by delta on Jul 25, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Jim Norton is great.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 25, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Is that all ya got?

“Scott Walker…took Ward’s verbal bait…Ward’s failure to defend himself helped Walker avoid suspension…”
How is that bashing Aaron Ward? What he basically said in that article is that the Bruins knew they had to play with some hate, Walker got caught up and punched a guy and that Ward not defending himself may have kept Walker from getting suspended.

Bashing should be made of sterner stuff.

by Sluv on Jul 29, 2009 9:57 PM EDT reply actions