The Truth Comes Out - Bruins Dump Aaron Ward to Acquire Derek Morris

by Bob Wage on Jul 26, 2009 5:31 PM EDT

Late last week when the Boston Bruins made a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes and sent Aaron Ward back home in exchange for Patrick Eaves and a fourth round draft pick, it seemed like the deal was just a simple salary dump. The Bruins looked to be in desperate need to free up cap space so that they could re-sign last year's leading goal scorer, Phil Kessel.

But looks can be deceiving. Boston immediately went the free agency route and signed Derek Morris to a one year contract. In essence, they wanted to replace Ward with a puck-moving, scoring threat. Did they make a wise decision?

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Aaron Ward	65	3	7	10	16	44	0	1	0	0	53	5.7

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Derek Morris	75	5	15	20	-10	40	0	1	0	0	120	4.2

Obviously, Morris is more offensively inclined than Ward is. While both defensemen finished with about the same number of blocked shots last season, (Ward 124, Morris 128), Ward had 151 hits compared to 83 for Morris.

There is one thing the stat lines won't tell you. Aaron Ward has won three Stanley Cup Championships. Derek Morris, not so much. We will see how it works out for the Bruins.

If nothing else, "Wardo" now has cause for some extra incentive to perform well whenever he faces his ex-teammates.

(Stanley Cup of Chowder has a nice tribute to Aaron in this article.)

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Comments

Not a fangirl of his by any means – but I’ll take Ward.

by SunE on Jul 26, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

There is something more to this story........

There must be something that we don’t know. From every perspective, this makes no sense. The only thing one can think of is perhaps the Bruins thought AW had lost a step or something. It could be his reaction after getting decked that didn’t sit well. It was a bit cry baby……….. Strange……….

by KenRab on Jul 26, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

Perhaps we could/should have traded Babchuk along with Eaves then if they were so desperate in getting offensive minded D? That would’ve sorted out the Babs situation and perhaps saved us that draft pick or got us one of their younger prospects?

Still an excellent trade though, and I have full belief that JR’s decision will prove to be the best option!

by webbo26 on Jul 26, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

Morris is very good at moving the puck up the ice, and Chiarelli said that was lacking against Carolina. But like Bubba said above and I mentioned before, you’re moving out a three-time Cup winner, the type of guy that pulls teams together.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 26, 2009 8:45 PM EDT reply actions

You saw how the B’s struggled to move the puck in that series. You guys seem to have an over-valued view of Ward. He isn’t the same player that won a Cup with Carolina. Time is starting to catch up with him. He was injured a lot last year and played through a lot of other minor injuries. Ward seems like a great guy, but the B’s needed a puck mover. It seems to be an upgrade from the Bruins perspective and the Canes get servicable defenseman for next to nothing. Win-Win situation for both teams.

Thanks for the link.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 26, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe this will work for both teams, both players fill a need.

It’s just funny that Chiarelli said that the only team he would have moved Ward to was Carolina. What if Carolina did not need a defenseman? Then they would have kept Ward? It doesn’t seem so now.

GM of CanesCountry.com

by Bob Wage on Jul 26, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t really believe anything that comes out of the Bruins front office. PC looks like a good guy in this situation. Who knows if he would/did shop Ward to other teams.

It seems that Kessel and PC are far apart on a deal, so maybe they thought they needed to make a move to sign a defenseman while guys were still available rather than waiting until late in the summer and potentially end up with Kessel walking and no additional blue line help.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 26, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Compare the +/- of both players.

Yeah, he might not be who he was, but who they both are shows Ward as the better player.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

FWIW, Ward has played on better teams than Morris.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 27, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

That's all well and good...

But 26 even-strength goals is a lot over the course of the season, no matter what the disparity..

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s like saying Josh Gorges is better than Brendan Witt b/c Witt’s plus/minus was so bad. For example, Michalek was minus-13 last year but had a very good year with the Coyotes. Stats can support an argument, but you can’t base your opinion on them alone. I’d bet Morris has a better plus/minus than Ward next year (playing with Chara will do that for you) … but won’t mean he’ll necessarily be more valuable to his team.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 27, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose...

But over the course of their careers, Ward has been far less likely to have a +/- disaster than has Morris.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

IIRC, Ward’s career plus/minus is worse than Morris’.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 27, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess this underscores how poorly Roddy played on a good team......

by KenRab on Jul 27, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Bad Move by Bruins

Bad choice by the Bruins; Go A. Ward an the Canes.

Could we cool down the weather an start the season today !!

GO CANES !!

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jul 26, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

Looking at Ward’s stats with 10 less games played than Morris then I don’t see where this deal was a win for the Bruins. If Ward had played the same number of games as Morris I’m thinking they would have been pretty much the same if not better. Who’s to say Morris won’t be riddled with injuries this season? I think we have the upper hand on this deal.

With the statement that they would have only traded him to Carolina, if that’s true, it shows their ignorance. It seems they think Ward won’t mesh in the locker room and give us a poor performance on the ice with the Walker situation. They forget these guys have been around a long time and are professionals. If I was Boston I would fear Ward on the ice in a Canes jersey, he has proven he doesn’t like the team that traded him away. Ask Wesley, I’m sure he remembers getting his head pounded in the glass by Ward in 2007 by Ward, I know I still haven’t forgotten it. I’m thinking thats the reason why Wesley had his little hesitation in responding (jokingly) when Forslund asked him at the Canes Fest about what he thought about Ward being back. Of course after hesitating he knows Ward will do a good job for what we expect of him.

by c59 on Jul 27, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

“If Ward had played the same number of games as Morris I’m thinking they would have been pretty much the same if not better. "

Stats aside, it’s a matter of fact that Morris has an offensive dimension that Ward lacks. Boston wasn’t trading for numbers; they were specifically pursuing a defenseman who could advance the puck more quickly than they were able to last season. Simple as that.

“With the statement that they would have only traded him to Carolina, if that’s true, it shows their ignorance. It seems they think Ward won’t mesh in the locker room and give us a poor performance on the ice with the Walker situation. "

Ward’s home is in Raleigh. Chiarelli moved him to Carolina as a matter of putting him and his family in the situation they wanted to be in before AW retires. Again, simple as that.

by bostonblueline.blogspot.com on Jul 27, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't worry.....

the same people praising A. Ward and his defensive prowess are those that are ready to hang Frank Kaberle out to dry.

Should A. Ward have a bad season due to injuries and at his age be a bit slow to recover, those that are crowing loudly over just how great A. Ward is will be the ones urging the ’Canes to buy out his contract and get rid of him.

If I’m wrong, I’ll be very happy. I fear I am not.

If money's the root of all evil then why do so many
churches brow beat their members for more?

by lcd2you on Jul 27, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Your only as good as your last shift. That's Hockey Baby!

Frank Kaberle has been dry since the summer of 2006 for a lot of money and cap space, he earned his way out the locker room door. Every hockey blog in the world hangs out injured players who don’t play or don’t produce what their payed to produce. That’s hockey, not certain fans who are ready to hang Frank Kaberle out to dry.

Talk about hanging out players to dry…look at most of the blogs about our legendary Captain this past season…talk about short term memories and hanging a player out to dry by the fans. Geez.

by c59 on Jul 27, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Roddy was like -24 or something on a very good team......not healthy? Sit your ass down.

by KenRab on Jul 27, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough to tell that to a proud professional athlete.

Tougher still to get them to listen.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey now...

The two are totally different players in different stages of decline. Kaberle was never a tough, physical player, and now that his skating and stickwork have fallen off, he just can’t give as much offensively. Ward never relied on incredible skating, a booming shot, or precise passes, thus he can still contribute through the end of his contract (just one year.) Kaberle was showing no signs of being one of our best six (or even maybe seven) defensemen for our team’s needs, and paying him not to play was going to be a problem.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Aaron Ward relying on his booming slapshot.

by Iggy Reilly on Jul 27, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha...

I wouldn’t go so far as to say one play establishes a reliance, and 43 goals in 750+ NHL games would kind of bear that out.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 27, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Simple vs Cap/Salary

Carolina shed Eaves and his salary and gave us A. Ward back, Boston aquired more cap headaches for an overpaid “puck moving defenseman”. Carolina wins in this deal, Boston…
Simple as that.

by c59 on Jul 27, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

All fine and well if you want to see it that way. For some reason, you’re still looking at this trade as a win/lose situation where one team is trying to screw the other. In fact it was a marriage of convenience, Boston trying to move Ward and Carolina trying to move Eaves, both for purely monetary reasons. But you’re welcome to have your independent opinion of it.

Just don’t expect us to buy that baloney about Ward being as good offensively as Morris, Morris about to have an injury-riddled season, Chiarelli trying to start locker room problems between Ward and Walker, and Ward coming back to injure Bruins out of pure vengeance. That’s just stuff you’re making up.

by bostonblueline.blogspot.com on Jul 27, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

"The right thing for Ward" or "purely for monetary reasons"- So which is it?

I’m not looking for Boston and Carolina to want to screw each other in this deal. Hell I’m thrilled it works for both sides. Just don’t insult my intelligence by implying that Boston who we knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals for the Stanley Cup by the most hated player in Boston because of the Ward situation has Ward’s best interest at heart and helped us out on the deal too. Paleese, Boston saw the opportunity to dump Ward to get Morris and it happened to work out for us too, but they had their agenda for it. It had nothing to do with wanting to do the right thing for Ward and Carolina.

I can’t wait to see the chemistry on the ice with Boston and Ward, that will tell this tale. Who knows, maybe Ward will hold Boston players hands on the ice and sing Kumba Ya for helping him to get back to Carolina. Trust me when I tell you I will be there.

I’m glad that Boston thinks they got a sweet deal with Morris, I’m sure the other 5 teams thought the same thing about him once upon a time. Good Luck with that.

by c59 on Jul 27, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Personally, this isn’t a slam dunk by Carolina. But it is, IMO, a bad one by the Bruins. Morris is definitely a good puck mover, but he’s overpaid.

Also, while Chiarelli looks like a good guy in this, you don’t win Cups being a good guy. It’s not like Ward would’ve been somewhere else for three or four years: he’s in the final year of his deal. Like SCCC, I really don’t believe Chiarelli … just like I don’t believe that he’d match any offer on Kessel.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 27, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Chiarelli is very conscious of what gets into the media from his office. I doubt he was 100% sincere about “only” looking at Carolina, but at the same time I have a feeling he chose this trade in part because it allows him to go to other free agents and say, “See, when we need to move someone we do it with class”. Probably not true, but it’s a great sales pitch for a guy like Morris who has been to 5 teams already.

by bostonblueline.blogspot.com on Jul 27, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

5 teams...........hhhmmmm that guy has worked for a lot of companies...why doesn't he stick?

Doesn’t look good on any resume. Like what the Canes accomplished here.

by KenRab on Jul 27, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks for the input from the Bruins bloggers

clearly most of us don’t follow Boston closely enough to say how well this works for them. We dumped Eaves to be able to afford Award; the Bs dumped Award to be able to sign a puck moving Dman — i agree with the win-win. Award may be on the down side of his career, but he fits in the locker room and he brings some toughness that Rutherford felt we needed after getting punked by the Pens. The fact that he lives here is a plus for the Canes; if he lived in LA it would be a plus if the Kings signed him.
Looking forward to game 2 in Boston; I’m sure the Bs fans will gave Award a nice ovation for his time there. Once the first 5 minutes or so are over, it’ll just be hockey.

by Gillimus on Jul 27, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

used cars

Both clubs want the trade to work out for both clubs. If the deal doesnt and it appears that one club screwed the other somehow, then that GM would be less likely to trade with that team in the future. This doesnt really apply in this situation, because we got AW for what amounts to only a pick instead of another body. However, if the Ruutu/Ladd deal had not worked out so well for both clubs, i’m sure the GM’s may hesitate to deal with each other again. If a car lot sells you a lemon, you are not likely to buy another one from them. All that aside, Morris is definitely more of an offensive D guy, while Ward is defensive D guy. B’s got what they need, and we got what we need. What is wrong or so hard to understand about that?

by xlwino on Jul 28, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions