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Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward out with concussion

By Darrell Samuels

Dec 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Joakim Nordstrom (42) and goalie Cam Ward (30) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Joakim Nordstrom (42) and goalie Cam Ward (30) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Hurricanes’ Cam Ward out with a concussion.

According to TSN, the Carolina Hurricanes have placed starting goaltender Cam Ward on injured reserve after suffering a concussion. To compensate Ward’s move to the sidelines, they have called up Daniel Altshuller of the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers.

The plan appears to be that Eddie Lack, formerly of the Vancouver Canucks, steps in and becomes the starter. Altshuller will then step into Lack’s old role as the backup netminder. Ward has a record of 14-11-5 in 32 games played this year. Over his career, he has been a fixture between the pipes in Carolina. Lack, 28, has a record of 6-8-3 in 18 games played for the franchise.

As of Jan. 20, they are 13th in the Eastern Conference and 23rd-overall in the entire National Hockey League. Last year, they finished 14th-overall in the Eastern Conference and 26th in the league. It’s not a huge improvement, but there appears to be some positives for the Hurricanes to build on. Carolina is in a rebuild after missing the playoffs over the past five seasons.

There appears to be a solid new foundation being built in Raleigh with budding superstars Victor Rask, Justin Faulk and fifth-overall selection in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, Noah Hanifin. Faulk and Rask have each played 40 games, with a combined 56 points. Projected star defenseman, Hanifin, has seven points over his first 37 contests of his career.

There is growing pressure on general manager Ron Francis to deal the Staal brothers, Eric and Jordan, as well as Ward. Fans are hoping to kickstart a youth movement, something that is long overdue for this floundering team.

Ward and the Staal brothers have been franchise stars in Carolina, but their time clearly has come to an end. Ward, 31, Eric, 31, and Jordan, 27, are all worth good prices for teams on the cusp of a championship. Ward is also an unrestricted free agent and there is no benefit for the Hurricanes to keep him on the roster for the remainder of the season and let him walk for nothing.

It depends on how long Ward remains out of the lineup, but this will be a story that will be worth watching.

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