Tag Archives: Carolina Hurricanes

Troy Bodie claimed by Carolina.

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The Ducks will not see Troy Bodie again this season. The big winger was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes today.

The Hurricanes had a surplus of forwards but a paucity of size. Bodie (6-4, 213) has a few pounds on captain Eric Staal (6-4, 205) and according to the Raleigh News and Observer’s Canes Now blog, Bodie could be plugged into the lineup right away:

“We
did our homework on him the last 24 hours and we felt like there is
very little risk in this acquisition, with a player on a two-way
contract,” general manager Jim Rutherford said. “But the upside is that
he’s young, hard-working, a good team player. He obviously adds size and
he can play a gritty, physical game.”

Canes coach Paul Maurice said Bodie would
be at the morning skate Wednesday and indicated Bodie could be in the
lineup and on the fourth line for the Pittsburgh game on Friday. That
will add to the Canes’ surplus of forwards.

Bodie makes the league minimum $500,000 salary and is on a two-way contract, but the Ducks had a surplus of forwards themselves and Bodie hadn’t played in eight games. He had been surpassed on the depth chart by Aaron Voros and had little chance of finding a spot once Kyle Palmieri and Nick Bonino were recalled from Syracuse to form a more offensive-oriented third line.

A ninth-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2003, Bodie had five goals, eight points and 87 penalty minutes in 57 NHL games, including one assist and seven PIM in nine games this season. In Anaheim, Bodie was probably most famous for winning a sushi-rolling contest last month.

The “Bodie”-licious Roll is still on the menu at RA Sushi in Chino Hills.

Ducks acquire Aaron Ward.

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Landing the depth defenseman they wanted, the Ducks have traded goaltender Justin Pogge and a future fourth-round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Aaron Ward.

Ward told reporters in Raleigh this morning that he will not be in Anaheim for tonight’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, but told Randy Carlyle he will practice with his new team Thursday.

In an interview with TSN this morning, Ward, who has been anxiously awaiting a trade, said he “was surprsied it’s Anaheim.”

“I’m happy from the fact I feel it’s a new lease on life,” he said. “October, November, I thought I had the poorest runs of hockey in my career and wasn’t very happy with it. I think I’ve played well the last few months.”

Ward, who turned 37 in January, has a goal and 11 points in 60 games this season for the Hurricanes. His minus-17 rating was second-lowest on the team.

In 822 career NHL games, Ward has recorded 44 goals and 149 points with 728 penalty minutes. A three-time Stanley Cup champion with Detroit (1997, 98) and Carolina (2006), the 6-2, 209-pound defenseman has added four goals and 10 points in 95 career playoff games.

“Aaron Ward brings valuable experience and is a proven winner with
three Stanley Cup championships,” Ducks GM Bob Murray said in a
statement. “We are pleased to bring him on board.”

Pogge was acquired in the off-season from the Toronto Maple Leafs to serve as the team’s third goaltender. The 23-year-old split the season between ECHL Bakersfield and AHL San Antonio, where he carried a 2.57 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 23 games.

The Ducks have three young goalies already under contract. Timo Pielmeier and Jean-Phillippe Levasseur are currently in Bakersfield, and Marco Cousineau is finishing up his final season in the QMJHL.

Ward gives the Ducks seven NHL defensemen under contract. They have been playing with six since Nick Boynton was assigned to the AHL on Feb. 2.