The Carolina Hurricanes have extended their partnership with Cam Ward for two more seasons, the club announced Thursday.
Ward will earn $6.6 million over the two-year term, including $3.5 million in the 2016-17 season.
The veteran netminder was a lightning rod for criticism in recent seasons, and throughout his mammoth six-year deal that expired at the end of the year. He's largely provided mix-bag results during his tenure, and led Carolina into the postseason just once since his breakthrough performance in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ward has provided career-average numbers over the course of the last two seasons, but his efficiency has been well below the league's current standard. Ward's .907 save percentage over the last four seasons ranks second-to-last among goaltenders with at least 100 starts.
He'll take almost a 50 percent pay cut to remain in Carolina, but the organization clearly sees value - or doesn't quite have enough trust in Eddie Lack - in having Ward contribute in goal as they continue to develop. This includes grooming their own goaltending prospects, namely U.S. world junior netminder Alex Nedeljkovic.
Ward had the largest cap hit among goaltenders scheduled to hit the open market.
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