Capitals Sign Joel Ward

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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed right wing Joel Ward to a four-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
Ward, 30, recorded 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in 80 games last season with the Nashville Predators. He ranked second among Nashville forwards in blocked shots (57), third in takeaways (51) and fourth in hits (67). In addition, Ward led the Predators in goals (7), assists (6) and points (13) in 12 games during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. He recorded a point in nine of Nashville’s 12 postseason games (including four straight).
 
During the 2009-10 season, Ward set a career-high in assists (21) and posted personal bests in shots (134) and average ice time. The North York, Ontario native scored a career-high 17 goals and added 18 assists during the 2008-09 season with Nashville. He tied for fourth on the club in goals and ranked third in shooting percentage (12.8%). He was one of three Predators to notch multiple shorthanded goals (2) and was tied for eighth among NHL forwards in blocked shots (69).
 
Ward, a 6’1’’, 218-pound forward, has appeared in 241 career NHL games with Minnesota and Nashville, posting 99 points (40 goals, 59 assists) and 89 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 18 career postseason games with the Predators, collecting 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) and eight penalty minutes.