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Capitals want more from Joel Ward

wardletdowngetty

James

Free agency and hindsight mix about as well as timidity and stand-up comedy, but even so, the Washington Capitals should have known better with Joel Ward. After all, they enjoyed an up-close showing of the playoff flash-in-the-pan phenomenon with John Druce in 1990.

GM George McPhee was nonetheless lured in by the siren call of a random and rousing playoff run with the Nashville Predators, ignoring logic and handing Ward a hefty four-year, $12 million deal.

What have the Capitals gotten for all that cash? Ward has six goals and 18 points on the season, making such a marginal impact that Dale Hunter made him a healthy scratch.

CSNWashington.com’s Chuck Gormley passes along Hunter’s easier-said-than-done message for Ward.

“We expect more from him,” Hunter said. “He knows it. He’ll come out and play hard.”

It’s pretty reasonable for the Capitals to expect more from him since he’s produced so little. Even if his work ethic is there, Washington needs more than just hustle and defensive responsibility from Ward.

Maybe they made a mistake in expecting more than that, though.