Cam Ward: Our 2010-11 MVP

I was watching the Rangers get drubbed by the Islanders today (which now makes them as easy to pass as Buffalo, assuming we beat the Sabres on Sunday) and Henrik Lundqvist got pulled after a subpar performance.  Lundqvist, just like Carey Price coming into his brief night in Raleigh, was riding a long streak of consecutive starts and was starting the second of a back-to-back.  Both Lundqvist and Price are considered Vezina contenders this year, and both wilted under the pressure, despite desperately needing wins to stay in the playoff picture.

Now consider that Cam Ward leads the league in games played and consecutive games started, has faced far and away the most shots, and made the most saves; all while maintaining a +.920 save percentage.  Then think about the insane amount of back-to-back games that the Hurricanes have had to play this year.  It's hard to put a number on it, but I'd have to say that Wardo would also be tops in the league in grade A saves.

I never really thought Ward lived up to the proverbial "hype" following his Con Smythe performance, despite never having anything close to a top tier defense in front of him during his years as a Cane.  That being said, this is by far the best season of his still young career and I think the example of Lundqvist and Price above should give everyone here a bit of perspective on how great Cam has truly been despite the heavy work load he's had to endure in order to keep us in the playoff hunt.  The fact that Ward can maintain such a high level of performance despite playing in so many games (many of them back-to-back), and face so many shots (many of them grade A chances) puts him in a class above most others.  I think most NHL analysts and even some of us here at CC have greatly under-appreciated the season Cam Ward is having.  With any "average" goaltender playing for us, we'd probably only be contending with Florida for last place in the Southeast.

It's a shame that GAA is factored so heavily in the decision of awarding a Vezina trophy winner, and that not enough importance is placed on the team defense in front of said goalie.  It's also a shame that Cam plays in a small, non-traditional market and most of  "hockey nation" hasn't watched and/or doesn't care about his remarkable play this season.  The biggest shame though, will come when Ward isn't even mentioned in the same breath as the eventual Vezina finalists.  Don't get me wrong, if I were voting, Tim Thomas would be my Vezina winner without a doubt (I mean he's just been incredible this year), but Cam Ward deserves to at least be considered.  One thing is for sure though.  He's the Carolina Hurricanes' MVP this year.

I just hope he has enough fuel in the tank to add another Con Smythe to his trophy case this Spring.