Two Year Deals for Carolina Hurricanes Ward & Detroit Red Wings Sheahan, as LA Kings name Kopitar Captain

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Thursday that they have resigned goaltender Cam Ward to a two-year contract. 

The 32-year-old netminder is set to make 3.5 million dollars next season and 3.1 million dollars the following year. Ward was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1^st had he not inked the new contract on Thursday. 

This past season Ward went 23-17-10 with a 2.41 goals against average and .909 save percentage in 52 games for the Hurricanes. He told the Hurricanes website, “I believe the hard work begins now. Knowing the Canes gave me this opportunity to come back for two years, I do not take that lightly.”

 

In his rookie season, in 2006, Ward led the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup as well as taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff Most Valuable Player. He holds a career record of 269-208-68 with a 2.70 GAA and .923 save percentage throughout his 564 regular season games. Ward has 23 shutouts over his career. 

The Hurricanes first round, 25^th overall selection in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft has spent all 11 of his NHL seasons with Carolina. The 2015-2016 season marked the final year of the six-year 37.8 million-dollar deal he signed in on September 30, 2009.  

Hurricane’s general manager, Ron Francis said, “Cam has been a major face of the Hurricanes both on the ice and in the community for more than a decade. We are happy he has chosen to continue his career in Carolina.”

 

In other hockey news:

The Los Angeles Kings on Thursday named Anze Kopitar the captain for the 2016-2017 season. Kopitar replaces Dustin Brown in the leadership role for the organization. 

Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said that the leadership change was necessary considering Kopitar’s rise and Brown’s struggles over the past few seasons. Lombardi added, “It is time for Kopitar to take over. He has been bred for it. He has been trained for it. He has been one of our top players, and he is moving into his prime. It is his turn.”

The Detroit Red Wings also signed Riley Sheahan to a two-year deal on Thursday as well. While no financial terms were released, it is believed to be worth about 2.075 million per season. 

The 24 year-old could have become a restricted free agent on July 1^st, had 14 goals and 11 assists in 81 games during the 2015-2016 season. In the Red Wings playoff round, Sheahan managed to score one point in the five games versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The St. Louis Blues also signed 23-year-old forward Dmitrij Jaskin to a two-year deal. Jaskin tallied four goals and nine assists in 65 regular season games last year. He was able to put up a goal and an assist in six playoff games with the Blues last season.

The Blues second round 2011 draft pick, has 33 points in 139 regular season games. The Russian born forward was named to the roster for the 2016 Czech Republic World Cup Team.