Jason Robert Ward (born January 16, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He has played 336 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was born in Chapleau, Ontario. Playing career Ward was drafted 11th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played 186 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points. When he was traded to the Kings, the deal sent agitator Sean Avery to the Rangers providing them boost for a playoff push. On February 27, 2007, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, making the third time he was traded during the 2006–07 season. He scored his first Lightning goal in his debut with the team. After completing the 2009–10 season in the American Hockey League with Philadelphia Flyers affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, Ward was unable to garner a new NHL contract for the following 2010–11 season. In order to maintain game shape, Ward voluntarily took on a position as an assistant coach for major junior team the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League while on the lookout for a new contract. On November 15, 2010, Ward signed a one-year contract and played his last professional season with Austrian team, EHC Black Wings Linz, of the EBEL. Ward has the distinction of scoring his first NHL goal, in his first NHL game, on his first NHL shot, all three milestones coming at Madison Square Garden against the Mike Richter and the New York Rangers on December 3, 1999 Career statistics Regular season and playoffs International References External links 1979 births Living people Adirondack Phantoms players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Austria Canadian ice hockey right wingers EHC Black Wings Linz players Erie Otters players Fredericton Canadiens players Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) players Ice hockey people from Ontario Los Angeles Kings players Montreal Canadiens draft picks Montreal Canadiens players National Hockey League first-round draft picks New York Rangers players Niagara Falls Thunder players Norfolk Admirals players People from Chapleau, Ontario Plymouth Whalers players Quebec Citadelles players Tampa Bay Lightning players Windsor Spitfires players