The Carolina Hurricanes may have been trying to find a way to move Cam Ward, but their plan for next season has him involved.
Ward has battled injuries and has a juicy contract that pays him $6.3 million against the salary cap over the next three seasons, but according to Chip Alexander of the News & Observer, he’ll be splitting the net with Anton Khudobin.
Carolina’s third goalie last season, Justin Peters, is set to be a free agent this summer. Making the Ward/Khudobin split awkward is Ward’s history with the Hurricanes and Khudobin outperforming him in a big way last season. Ward was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as he helped lead Carolina to the Stanley Cup in 2006.
Last season it appeared now former head coach Kirk Muller favored Khudobin and for good reason as he had a .926 save percentage compared to Ward’s .898 and Peters’ .919. With Peters on his way out, Ward will have to work hard to reestablish himself in goal to new head coach Bill Peters.
Francis said the "plan" was to go into next season with Khudobin, Ward as the Canes' two goalies.
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) June 28, 2014