[Report] Joel Ward announces retirement

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[RRypien37]

Undrafted long shot who didn't get a taste of the show till 26. Still managed 700+ games. Props to him, enjoy the well earned retirement. 

[Master Mind]

I'll always like Ward for this moment:

 

 

[HC20.0]

I remember how good he was for Nashville in the 2011 series against us. He was a heck of a hockey player. Happy retirement Joel!

[GB5]

I always appreciated Ward as a player. He seemed to give all he had every shift.

 

Hopefully retirement goes well for him.

[Guest]

He was a playoff beast.  

Did a lot to reach out to the black community that was interested in hockey too.  Great guy all around! 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, HC20.0 said:

I remember how good he was for Nashville in the 2011 series against us. He was a heck of a hockey player. Happy retirement Joel!

Yup, I remember that too.  Kesler really saved us in that series.  

I'm really hoping that we find playoff performers amongst our young players.  Podkolzin really stepped it up in the playoffs in the KHL this year, so it's looking good there.  

 

I have no idea what to expect from Hoglander, Lind, Gaudette, and MacEwen when it comes to the postseason.  Gaudette does strike me as the type that would raise his game.  Really excited to find out! 

[ruilin96]

1 hour ago, VancouverHabitant said:

Yup, I remember that too.  Kesler really saved us in that series.  

I'm really hoping that we find playoff performers amongst our young players.  Podkolzin really stepped it up in the playoffs in the KHL this year, so it's looking good there.  

 

I have no idea what to expect from Hoglander, Lind, Gaudette, and MacEwen when it comes to the postseason.  Gaudette does strike me as the type that would raise his game.  Really excited to find out! 

Pettersson will be a playoff player too. I also think Bo Horvat will be a playoff beast in the post season.

[Jam126]

Seeing all these players I grew up watching retire definitely sheds a tear. I remember he scored almost all of Nashville's goals against us in 2011 lol. Also he was a really good player that no one really talked about, he was always underrated. Fantastic career in the NHL.

[BabychStache]

4 hours ago, ruilin96 said:

Pettersson will be a playoff player too. I also think Bo Horvat will be a playoff beast in the post season.

I can see Virtanen being highly effective too. He scores clutch goals and will elevate his physical game.

[King Heffy]

Solid career for one of the good guys in the game.  Played hard but clean, and all class off the ice.  Hoping he enjoys whatever he chooses to do in retirement; I think he'd be very successful if he stayed in the sport in some capacity.

[luckylager]

8 hours ago, VancouverHabitant said:

Yup, I remember that too.  Kesler really saved us in that series.  

I'm really hoping that we find playoff performers amongst our young players.  Podkolzin really stepped it up in the playoffs in the KHL this year, so it's looking good there.  

 

I have no idea what to expect from Hoglander, Lind, Gaudette, and MacEwen when it comes to the postseason.  Gaudette does strike me as the type that would raise his game.  Really excited to find out! 

 

7 hours ago, ruilin96 said:

Pettersson will be a playoff player too. I also think Bo Horvat will be a playoff beast in the post season.

 

2 hours ago, BabychStache said:

I can see Virtanen being highly effective too. He scores clutch goals and will elevate his physical game.

JB talks a lot about character in the players he drafts. Character guys expect of themselves first, sacrifice for their team and find ways to step up and and push their play to another level when games matter the most.

I'm really excited to see what kind of damage our youngins can inflict in the playoffs as they learn what it's going to take to go all the way. 

 

I really hope we get to see them take their first steps playoffs this year. A guy I'm really curious to see play post season is Motte. He goes at 110% all season long, he's gonna be a demon come playoff time. So much so I bet he'll more than double his regular season ppg. 

[ruilin96]

15 hours ago, luckylager said:

 

 

JB talks a lot about character in the players he drafts. Character guys expect of themselves first, sacrifice for their team and find ways to step up and and push their play to another level when games matter the most.

I'm really excited to see what kind of damage our youngins can inflict in the playoffs as they learn what it's going to take to go all the way. 

 

I really hope we get to see them take their first steps playoffs this year. A guy I'm really curious to see play post season is Motte. He goes at 110% all season long, he's gonna be a demon come playoff time. So much so I bet he'll more than double his regular season ppg. 

I can totally see Motte score a double OT game winning playoff goal by just going to the net and hard and put home what you would call a "garbage goal" to win a big game for us.