RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman Aaron Ward from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

“With this trade, our defense really takes shape,” said Rutherford. “Aaron played very well during his time in Carolina and had maintained that consistency with New York and Boston. We envision him complementing Joni Pitkanen well as a defensive pairing.”

Ward, 36, completed his 14th NHL season in 2008-09, totaling three goals and seven assists (10 points) and 44 penalty minutes in 65 games for the Boston Bruins. The Windsor, Ont., native ranked second among Bruins skaters in blocked shots (124) and third among Bruins skaters in hits (151) despite missing 17 games due to injury. Ward (6’2”, 209 lbs.) skated in all 11 of Boston’s Stanley Cup Playoff contests, netting one goal and leading Boston with 25 blocked shots.

Originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, fifth overall, of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Ward has tallied 43 goals and 95 assists (138 points) and 674 penalty minutes in 762 career NHL games with Detroit, Carolina, the New York Rangers and Boston. He has played in 95 career playoff games, earning 10 points (4g, 6a) and 73 penalty minutes. His teams have reached the Stanley Cup Finals four times, and captured the Stanley Cup championships three times – 1997 and 1998 with Detroit and 2006 with Carolina.