The 2018-19 season was one of transition for Cam Ward. With the Carolina Hurricanes set to pursue a new direction in goal, Ward found himself looking for a new home after spending 13 seasons in Raleigh.
It didn’t take long. The Chicago Blackhawks came calling on the opening day of free agency (the same day that the Hurricanes signed Petr Mrazek), signing the veteran keeper to a one-year contract. With Corey Crawford hampered by concussion issues, Ward was brought in to help solidify the goaltending situation.
While both his save percentage and goals-against average were sub-par (thanks largely to Chicago’s woeful penalty kill), Ward did manage to put up a winning record with a struggling Blackhawks team that missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year.