Font Size

Boston Bruins

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Bruins Send Aaron Ward Back To Hurricanes

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Jul 24, 2009 2:21 pm US/Eastern

Bruins Send Aaron Ward Back To Hurricanes

By Joedy McCreary, AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Boston Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward (file image)
Elsa/Getty Images

Close

numSlides of totalImages

Aaron Ward is headed back to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes reacquired the rugged defenseman from the Boston Bruins on Friday for forward Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round draft pick next year.

"With this trade, our defense really takes shape," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said.

"We envision him complementing Joni Pitkanen well as a defensive pairing."

The move makes teammates of Ward and the player who infamously punched him two months ago.

Scott Walker decked Ward late during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal won by Carolina.

The blow was called a "sucker punch" by Bruins coach Claude Julien.

The 36-year-old Ward, who lives in Raleigh during the offseason, helped Carolina win its first Stanley Cup in 2006, then signed a free agent deal with the New York Rangers that summer.

Ward becomes the latest key player from that team to be reacquired by the Hurricanes.

Center Matt Cullen was traded back to Carolina in 2007 after one season with the Rangers, and the club dealt forward Erik Cole to Edmonton before last season before bringing him back in a pivotal deal at the trading deadline.

After trading for Eaves, the Bruins placed the 25-year-old right wing on waivers with the purpose of buying him out. He had six goals and eight assists in 74 games last season.