The cup victory is the only reason Ward is still with the Canes today.
As an ex Canes season ticket holder, I completely disagree with this.
He is beloved by both the fans and the young core of players.
Here are his stats since the Cup victory, on Canes teams that havent exactly been dynamos on either end of the ice;
2007-08 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2.75 37 25 5 1690 0.904 (rookie season)
2008-09 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2.44 39 23 5 1741 0.916
2009-10 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2.69 18 23 5 1290 0.916 (injured for 1/2 the season)
Compare that to MA Fleury here in Pittsburgh;
2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2.33 19 10 2 837 0.921
2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2.67 35 18 7 1688 0.912
2009-10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2.65 37 21 6 1604 0.905
Or Miika Kiprusoff in Calgary;
2007-08 Calgary Flames NHL 2.69 39 26 10 1899 0.906
2008-09 Calgary Flames NHL 2.84 45 24 5 1946 0.903
2009-10 Calgary Flames NHL 2.31 35 28 10 1872 0.920
Daniel