Hurricanes face decisions on Cam Ward, goaltending
For the first time in over 10 years, the future of the Carolina Hurricanes' goaltending tandem could be without Cam Ward. Ward, the Canes' 2002 first-round draft pick, is a pending unrestricted free agent. While other free-agents-to-be were moved at the trade deadline, Ward remained with the Hurricanes through the end of the season but what is ahead is more uncertain.
With that in mind, his final media scrum of the season on Tuesday was raw and emotional for the 32-year-old netminder. Was he cleaning out his stall at PNC Arena for the final time?
"I think eventually it will sink in, but I'm not ready to close that door. I'm remaining optimistic that hopefully something can happen," he said. "I've made it clear that this is where I'd like to be. I'm proud to have been a Hurricane and been here for as many years as I've been."
The Saskatoon, Sask., native along with his wife, Cody, and two children, Nolan and Nyla, have planted roots in Raleigh.
"I consider Raleigh my home. I'm very fortunate to have been here as long as I have been. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I see the direction the organization is going," Ward said. "I've talked to my wife about that, how fortunate and lucky we are. You come across all these other players who, for the most part, have been elsewhere, and they can talk to you about their experiences on other teams, whether good or bad. That's something I've never experienced and you tend to wonder what it could be like, but I'm comfortable here and would rather be here."
