As I recall, it was a work. Marty was selling the Barber Shop injury.
According to Marty's shoot, he was placed under house arrest after a scuffle with a cop.
Some things never change.
I'd say the league desperately needs to get out of their contract with OLN, but I don't know where else they'd go. ESPN obviously doesn't want hockey, and FSN is too regional.
Sometimes it's hard for certain types of players to be backups. This is especially true for goalies. Some goalies are terrific if they have a starting job or they get regular work in, but are prone to slumps if they aren't used often. Ward could be one of those guys.
Ward was a terrific goalie in junior -- two time WHL goalie of the year, CHL goalie of the year, won a Memorial Cup -- so what he's doing now doesn't really surprise me that much. He's going to be a keeper.