The Sharks have signed unrestricted free agent forward Joel Ward to a three-year contract, CSNCalifornia.com has learned.
The deal is worth $3.275 annually ($9.825 million total).
Ward, 34, has 97 goals and 220 points in 517 career NHL games with the Wild, Predators and Capitals. He’s spent the last four seasons in Washington, where he had 19 goals and 34 points in 82 games in 2014-15.
The solidly built 6-foot-1, 225-pound right wing also has the reputation of being a clutch performer in the postseason, where he has 35 points (14g, 21a) in 53 career postseason games.
"Joel is a quality veteran player who can score but also plays an extremely hard-nosed brand of hockey," general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. "He meshes well with our core group of forwards and has a strong track record of playing his best hockey at crucial times of the season."
"Joel is an identity player in that he plays exactly the way I want our team to play," coach Peter DeBoer said. "He's big, strong, fast and hard to play against. That's exactly what we are looking for."
In addition to his NHL experience, Ward represented Team Canada at the 2014 World Championships, with 9 points (6g, 3a) and a +4 rating.
Ward was originally signed as a free agent by Minnesota on Sep. 27, 2006.
