Ward Growing Frustrated
Mar 1, 2003 13:00:21 GMT -5
Post by BadCompany on Mar 1, 2003 13:00:21 GMT -5
Ward languishes on farm[/color][/url]
Hamilton forward leads AHL in scoring. But Habs prospect hasn't played a shift here in two years, and he's growing frustrated
By JOHN MEAGHER
Montreal Gazette
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Jason Ward figures he's due for a promotion, but Canadiens brass seems to feel otherwise.
The all-star forward with the Hamilton Bulldogs is leading the American Hockey League in scoring, but has yet to play a shift in Montreal this season.
The 24-year-old hasn't played for the Canadiens in more than two years, which seems like a strange way to treat a former first-round draft pick (11th overall in 1997).
Making it all the more difficult for Ward to swallow is that many of his Hamilton teammates, including forwards Marcel Hossa and Mike Ribeiro, have been called up by the struggling Canadiens, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
Even former Bulldogs coach Claude Julien saw his NHL dream come true in January when he replaced Michel Therrien behind the Canadiens bench.
There's also the case of Éric Chouinard, another former first-round draft pick with Montreal (16th overall in 1998) who was traded from the minor-league Utah Grizzlies to the Philadelphia Flyers this season. Chouinard is gaining confidence and earning an NHL paycheque with four goals and one assist in 13 games for the Flyers.
Ward has tried not to let his disappointment affect his game.
"It's obviously a little frustrating, but I don't worry about things I can't control," he said. "I'll just keep working hard and hope for the best."
Ward, who led the AHL with 30 goals and 70 points heading into last night's game against Philadelphia, was asked if he understands why the Canadiens haven't called him up.
"I don't know. Maybe it's just a numbers game," he said. "The Canadiens have a lot of players on one-way (contracts), and I'm on a two-way ... which pays me $75,000 Canadian here or $770,000 U.S. in Montreal."
Considering the poor play of Mariusz Czerkawski and Donald Audette this season - a couple of highly paid players who were demoted to Hamilton for a spell - Ward's NHL salary seems like a bargain, even if he were to be relegated to fourth-line duty.
In his previous stints with the Canadiens, Ward scored two goals in 44 games.
"I was only getting five minutes or less of ice time per game," he said in his defence.
"I'm a much better player now than when I was drafted," he added. "I've never been known as a skilled player, but more of a hard-working defensive player. But I've added another element to my game: scoring."
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Ward would appear to fill the Canadiens' need for a big, rugged forward. The knock on the Chapleau, Ont., native has always been his choppy skating. But he says he has worked hard to improve that aspect of his game.
While Ward has yet to issue a play-me-or-trade-me ultimatum to the Canadiens, that card could eventually be dealt by his agent, Pat Morris, should the team write him out of its future plans.
"I still want to play in Montreal," Ward said. "But if they can't give me a chance like I believe I deserve, then (a trade) is what has to be done. It's at the point where I can't keep waiting.
"I feel I can play in the NHL, but I need to be given an opportunity to prove I belong or don't belong. I think I've earned at least that."
Hamilton forward leads AHL in scoring. But Habs prospect hasn't played a shift here in two years, and he's growing frustrated
By JOHN MEAGHER
Montreal Gazette
ADVERTISEMENT
Jason Ward figures he's due for a promotion, but Canadiens brass seems to feel otherwise.
The all-star forward with the Hamilton Bulldogs is leading the American Hockey League in scoring, but has yet to play a shift in Montreal this season.
The 24-year-old hasn't played for the Canadiens in more than two years, which seems like a strange way to treat a former first-round draft pick (11th overall in 1997).
Making it all the more difficult for Ward to swallow is that many of his Hamilton teammates, including forwards Marcel Hossa and Mike Ribeiro, have been called up by the struggling Canadiens, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
Even former Bulldogs coach Claude Julien saw his NHL dream come true in January when he replaced Michel Therrien behind the Canadiens bench.
There's also the case of Éric Chouinard, another former first-round draft pick with Montreal (16th overall in 1998) who was traded from the minor-league Utah Grizzlies to the Philadelphia Flyers this season. Chouinard is gaining confidence and earning an NHL paycheque with four goals and one assist in 13 games for the Flyers.
Ward has tried not to let his disappointment affect his game.
"It's obviously a little frustrating, but I don't worry about things I can't control," he said. "I'll just keep working hard and hope for the best."
Ward, who led the AHL with 30 goals and 70 points heading into last night's game against Philadelphia, was asked if he understands why the Canadiens haven't called him up.
"I don't know. Maybe it's just a numbers game," he said. "The Canadiens have a lot of players on one-way (contracts), and I'm on a two-way ... which pays me $75,000 Canadian here or $770,000 U.S. in Montreal."
Considering the poor play of Mariusz Czerkawski and Donald Audette this season - a couple of highly paid players who were demoted to Hamilton for a spell - Ward's NHL salary seems like a bargain, even if he were to be relegated to fourth-line duty.
In his previous stints with the Canadiens, Ward scored two goals in 44 games.
"I was only getting five minutes or less of ice time per game," he said in his defence.
"I'm a much better player now than when I was drafted," he added. "I've never been known as a skilled player, but more of a hard-working defensive player. But I've added another element to my game: scoring."
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Ward would appear to fill the Canadiens' need for a big, rugged forward. The knock on the Chapleau, Ont., native has always been his choppy skating. But he says he has worked hard to improve that aspect of his game.
While Ward has yet to issue a play-me-or-trade-me ultimatum to the Canadiens, that card could eventually be dealt by his agent, Pat Morris, should the team write him out of its future plans.
"I still want to play in Montreal," Ward said. "But if they can't give me a chance like I believe I deserve, then (a trade) is what has to be done. It's at the point where I can't keep waiting.
"I feel I can play in the NHL, but I need to be given an opportunity to prove I belong or don't belong. I think I've earned at least that."