Does Cam Ward Suddenly Suck?

[Proudiddy]

From a casual Canes fan, but a fan nonetheless, I haven't been keeping up with the team in depth so I'm sure there is a lot I'm missing as far as personnel. But, I've noticed in some of the highlights that even the announcers are saying Ward has been having a rough go of it.

Also, there seems to be some hype around this Murphy guy that's behind Cam. A couple years ago, CW was a beast and helped us win the cup, so WTF happened? I know some goalies fall off out of nowhere only to revive their career again. I also know quite often that if a goalie is suddenly struggling it's because of problems up front (DMen and forwards not aggressive enough, lack of forecheck, etc.). So which is it? Have most Canes fans given up on him?

I plan on going to a game this year, and hopefully more knowledgeable about our personnel, as I know the game pretty well, just not our players.

[Sapper]

He has certainly slumped since his amazing rookie year, but he is also getting 0 help from our defense.

[The Other Colbert]

My overview of Cam Ward:

Had the amazing run in the playoffs in 2006 in relief of Gerber... We would have never won the Stanley Cup if it wasn't for Ward's lights out goaltending in the playoffs.

2007- We let Gerber go and obviously want Ward to be our full-time starter... he shows that he is not ready to take the full work load.

Every year since that... he has shown great improvement but never can quite hold it together for a full season.

He is so inconsistent and streaky as the seasons wear on. IMO he has never proven that he can be consistently good for a full season as the starter. He will always go through phases when he makes unbelievable saves... and then lets in the softest goals.

[carpanfan96]

If the Canes had a defense, then he would be having a bad season. Since they don't, I'll give him a pass after he stood on his head last season.

[SauceBoss]

Past two years, Cam takes more shots than anyone b/c we lack a physical defense. Time to abandon ship and start fresh. I don't want to trade away Staal, but...

[Panther_mountain]

I am going to spit out some random thoughts...

One promising thing about the Canes defense is we are loaded with young defenders in the minors. A good website to follow the young guys in the minors with is www.hockeysfuture.com . One gripe I have on it is that it isn't updated as much as I would want it to be. But they are covering the minors for the every team.

I hope they dont do something crazy like trade Cam but we do have a prospect in Sweden named Frederik Anderson who is playing lights out over there. I think we got him in like the 7th round a couple years ago and he is playing better than players who were darfted MUCH higher. Heck he beat out his own teammate who was a 2nd rounder.

I am VERY excited right now about Victor Rask. He looks to have alot of potential. He seems he might also have some potential to disappear like Sergei Samsonov used to but I am high on him. Rask is playing great with the Calgary Hitmen right now.

Ryan Murhpy has been playing great with the Kitchner Rangers although he did have a recent concussion.

The Canes are tanking right now. Our best offensive player Skinner and defensive player Pitkanen are out with concussions. Staal is playing crappy. The season is basically over for the Canes. I am not gonna lie, I hope we keep losing. The draft is loaded heavy with D but there are some franchise changing offensive players in Yakupov and Grigorenko. Pair them with Skinner...watch out!!! Those guys look Stamkos good, which is pretty damn good.

[Panther_mountain]

I am going to spit out some random thoughts...

One promising thing about the Canes defense is we are loaded with young defenders in the minors. A good website to follow the young guys in the minors with is www.hockeysfuture.com . One gripe I have on it is that it isn't updated as much as I would want it to be. But they are covering the minors for the every team.

I hope they dont do something crazy like trade Cam but we do have a prospect in Sweden named Frederik Anderson who is playing lights out over there. I think we got him in like the 7th round a couple years ago and he is playing better than players who were darfted MUCH higher. Heck he beat out his own teammate who was a 2nd rounder.

I am VERY excited right now about Victor Rask. He looks to have alot of potential. He seems he might also have some potential to disappear like Sergei Samsonov used to but I am high on him. Rask is playing great with the Calgary Hitmen right now.

Ryan Murhpy has been playing great with the Kitchner Rangers although he did have a recent concussion.

The Canes are tanking right now. Our best offensive player Skinner and defensive player Pitkanen are out with concussions. Staal is playing crappy. The season is basically over for the Canes. I am not gonna lie, I hope we keep losing. The draft is loaded heavy with D but there are some franchise changing offensive players in Yakupov and Grigorenko. Pair them with Skinner...watch out!!! Those guys look Stamkos good, which is pretty damn good.