Ward went undrafted but worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut in 2006 with the Wild. He amassed 304 points (133 goals, 171 assists) in 726 games while adding 22 goals and 30 assists in 83 playoff games.
Hockey fandom was in an unusual frenzy for a Sunday in mid-June thanks to teams unveiling their lists of protected players ahead of the expansion draft.