Joel Ward announces his retirement from hockey
On Monday morning, 11 year NHL veteran forward Joel Ward officially announced his retirement from the sport of hockey.
Though Ward began his career going undrafted, he would take the ice for 726 NHL games. He would amass 304 career points (133 G, 171A) and reached the 20 goal plateau twice in his career, most recently with San Jose during the 15-16 season.
Through his 11 seasons, the Toronto native would suit up for the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks.
While Ward hasn't played in an NHL game since his time with San Jose during the 17-18 season, he says he considers himself lucky, despite being unsuccessful in landing himself a roster spot through the past two seasons.
”I know I didn't play the last two years, but I tried. I did. I wish I could have gone out in a bit of a different way.”
He continued;
”But, you know, just thinking about it all — all 726 games — I realized something. Who am I to wish for any more time? I got what I wanted.
I'm one of the lucky ones.”
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YESTERDAY
MAY 18, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Bolduc | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Phillip Danault | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Greenway | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kaiden Guhle | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Beck Malenstyn | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Owen Power | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nick Suzuki | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alexandre Texier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zach Benson | - | - | - | |
| Bowen Byram | - | - | - | |
| Cole Caufield | - | - | - | |
| Kirby Dach | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Demidov | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||