Hurricanes reacquire D Aaron Ward from Bruins for Patrick Eaves

‘Canes reacquire Aaron Ward from Boston

RALEIGH, N.C. — Aaron Ward is headed back to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes reacquired the rugged defenseman from the Boston Bruins on Friday for forward Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round draft pick next year.

“With this trade, our defense really takes shape,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. “We envision him complementing Joni Pitkanen well as a defensive pairing.”

The move makes teammates of Ward and the player who infamously punched him two months ago. Scott Walker decked Ward late during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal won by Carolina. The blow was called a “sucker punch” by Bruins coach Claude Julien.

The 36-year-old Ward, who lives in Raleigh during the offseason, helped Carolina win its first Stanley Cup in 2006, then signed a free agent deal with the New York Rangers that summer.

Ward becomes the latest key player from that team to be reacquired by the Hurricanes. Center Matt Cullen was traded back to Carolina in 2007 after one season with the Rangers, and the club dealt forward Erik Cole to Edmonton before last season before bringing him back in a pivotal deal at the trading deadline.

After trading for Eaves, the Bruins placed the 25-year-old right wing on waivers with the purpose of buying him out. He had six goals and eight assists in 74 games last season.