lumm0x
Bench Warmer
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday that the team has signed goaltender Cam Ward to a three-year contract.
The contract will pay Ward $2 million in 2007-08, $2.5 million in 2008-09 and $3.5 million in 2009-10.
"Cam is one of the cornerstones of our team moving forward," said general manager Rutherford in a statement.
"He has already built an impressive resume for himself at a young age, and we believe he is going to be one of the elite goaltenders in the National Hockey League for a long time."
Ward, 23, completed his second NHL season in 2006-07, establishing career bests in games played (60), wins (30), goals-against average (2.93), save percentage (.897) and shutouts (2).
As a rookie in 2005-06, Ward earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL's playoff MVP after leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship.
The contract will pay Ward $2 million in 2007-08, $2.5 million in 2008-09 and $3.5 million in 2009-10.
"Cam is one of the cornerstones of our team moving forward," said general manager Rutherford in a statement.
"He has already built an impressive resume for himself at a young age, and we believe he is going to be one of the elite goaltenders in the National Hockey League for a long time."
Ward, 23, completed his second NHL season in 2006-07, establishing career bests in games played (60), wins (30), goals-against average (2.93), save percentage (.897) and shutouts (2).
As a rookie in 2005-06, Ward earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL's playoff MVP after leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship.