McWard scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Bridgeport's 5-4 shootout loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.
McWard has three multi-point efforts over his last six games. The defenseman is up to three goals, seven helpers, 19 shots on net and a plus-10 rating over 13 appearances this season, his first with Bridgeport. He was limited to 26 points in 67 regular-season outings for AHL Abbotsford last year, but it appears he's taken a step forward offensively in his third professional campaign.
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Islanders' Cole McWard: Puts up two points
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McWard scored a goal and added an assist in AHL Bridgeport's 3-2 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
McWard is up to four points through eight outings for Bridgeport this season. He has no obvious path to the NHL barring multiple injuries for the big club, where the Islanders are carrying seven blueliners. In addition to the 24-year-old McWard, the Islanders could call on Isaiah George or Marshall Warren, the latter of whom just had a week-long stint in the NHL before returning to the minors Friday.
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Islanders' Cole McWard: Designated for waivers
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McWard was waived by the Islanders on Friday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
McWard last appeared in an NHL game back in 2023-24 when he was with the Canucks. In the minors last year, the 24-year-old blueliner put up decent numbers -- six goals and 20 helpers in 67 regular-season games -- but it wasn't enough to earn him a call-up. Expect more of the same for McWard this year, as he figures to continue plying his trade in the AHL.
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Islanders' Cole McWard: Headed for Long Island
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McWard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Islanders, the team announced Tuesday.
After spending the first three seasons in the Canucks organization, McWard has chosen the Islanders as his second team. In the 2024-25 regular season, he posted a career-high 26 points in 67 games played with AHL Abbotsford. He will likely start his time in the Islanders organization at the AHL level with Bridgeport in 2025-26.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Recalled by Vancouver
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McWard was recalled by the Canucks on Thursday.
McWard was sent to the minors ahead of the regular season, and he's logged a goal and six points over 21 appearances at AHL Abbotsford to begin the year. He's made just six appearances in the NHL over the last two seasons, but he'll be available to provide additional depth after Filip Hronek (lower body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Thursday.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Out Saturday
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McWard (lower body) isn't expected to play Saturday against Calgary, per Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650.
McWard's next opportunity to get into a game will come Monday versus Edmonton. He had four goals and 17 points in 57 regular-season appearances with AHL Abbotsford in 2023-24.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Remains out Friday
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McWard (lower body) isn't expected to be in the lineup Friday versus Seattle.
McWard had four goals and 17 points in 57 contests with AHL Abbotsford in 2023-24. He's likely to open the campaign in the minors, provided the 23-year-old is healthy enough to do so.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Not playing Tuesday
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McWard (lower body) will not be in the lineup to face Seattle on Tuesday, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province reports.
McWard has just six contests of NHL experience under his belt, including one game last year in which he posted no significant stats in 9:05 of ice time. At this point, McWard will almost certainly be heading down to AHL Abbotsford to open the season once he is given the all-clear from his lower-body injury.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Still out to begin main camp
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McWard is recovering from a lower-body surgery and won't be on the ice Thursday when the Canucks begin training camp, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports.
First news of McWard's injury surfaced when he was ruled out of rookie games last week. His surgery was to address a nagging injury that bothered him in 2023-24. McWard hasn't been ruled out of preseason games yet, but he'll be starting the year slowly while finishing his recovery.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Dealing with minor injury
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McWard won't play in rookie games for the Canucks while recovering from a minor injury, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province reports.
McWard's injury was described as a nagging issue from last season. The defenseman had 17 points in 57 games with AHL Abbotsford in his first full professional season. He's got six NHL games to his name, but there's no guarantee he'll begin 2024-25 with the big club, especially if his injury costs him preseason action.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Signs one-year deal
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McWard inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Canucks on Thursday.
McWard had the option to become a restricted free agent in July after completing his entry-level deal. The 23-year-old had four goals and 17 points in 57 regular-season games with AHL Abbotsford in 2023-24. McWard has also provided a goal across six career contests with Vancouver.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Heading to AHL
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McWard was reassigned to AHL Abbotsford on Thursday.
McWard made his NHL season debut Tuesday, registering a shot in 9:05 of ice time. At the AHL level, he has a goal and four points in 15 contests with Abbotsford this season.
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Canucks' Cole McWard: Heads to minors
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McWard was loaned to AHL Abbotsford on Monday.
McWard had one goal in five games with Vancouver last season after picking up 21 points in 39 appearances for Ohio State University during his sophomore campaign in 2022-23. He could be back with the big club before the start of the regular season.
