Photo Credit: Ontario Reign
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next, Taylor Ward!
Taylor Ward
Biography
Birthdate: March 31, 1998
Birthplace: Kelowna, British Columbia
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 207 lbs
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
Draft: Undrafted
2021-2022 Season
After joining the Ontario Reign out of college, Taylor Ward didn’t waste much time making an impact. He picked up five assists in his first five professional games, including a three-assist performance in just his second game. Ward did have the privilege of spending a lot of his time on the top line with T.J. Tynan and Martin Frk but was sprinkled throughout the lineup as the rest of the season went on. In total, Ward finished with three goals and ten points in 16 games with Ontario.
The 24-year-old Ward spent four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and closed out his collegiate career with 19 goals and 39 points in 38 games during the 2021-22 campaign.
In college, he showed off an impressive release:
While we saw flashes of this in Ontario – particularly on his first career goal – what impressed me the most during his time in the AHL was his ability to read the play and know where to go when he did not have the puck:
2022-23 Outlook
Ward went undrafted, and you won’t find him on any LA Kings prospect lists, so the spotlight isn’t exactly on him. That said, I found it telling that he was immediately put on one of the top lines and saw power play time last season. He’s a player that exhibited a knack for knowing where to be without the puck, was responsible in his own zone, and complemented his linemates very well.
He’ll never be considered a great skater, but he can get up and down the ice enough to become a threat in the offensive zone with how he thinks the game.
There will be a lot of competition on the wings in Ontario so where he fits in the lineup remains to be seen. Though, wherever it is, he’s likely to play with a talented centerman. Whether it’s Tynan, Alex Turcotte, Akil Thomas, or Samuel Helenius, he should see plenty of time in the offensive zone.
Lastly, among skaters who played in 20 games (this includes playoffs) last season, Ward led the Reign in primary assists per 60 minutes at even strength (via InStat). The Kelowna native may be an under-the-radar player, but don’t be surprised if he is a productive piece for Ontario in 2022-23.
Videos via InStat