Brad Stuart

Bradley Stuart (born November 6, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in over 1,000 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and Colorado Avalanche.

Stuart was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning 2007–08 Detroit Red Wings, his first and only Stanley Cup win.

Playing career

San Jose Sharks Stuart was drafted in the first round, third overall, in the 1998 NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks. In a game against the Los Angeles Kings on April 4, 2004, Stuart scored twice in a 17-second span, forcing the game into overtime at a 3–3 tie; Stuart's feat is the fastest that a Sharks player has scored two goals. The Sharks went on to win 4–3.

In November 2005, after playing with the Sharks for more than five seasons, Stuart was traded (along with Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau) to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Joe Thornton.

Calgary Flames On February 10, 2007, Stuart was traded to the Calgary Flames (again alongside Wayne Primeau) in exchange for Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew. Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli cited his inability to agree on a new contract with Stuart, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2006–07 season, as a reason for the trade.

Los Angeles Kings After the end of the season, Stuart signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Detroit Red Wings On February 26, 2008, the Kings traded Stuart to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for second- and fourth-round picks in the 2008 and 2009 NHL entry drafts, respectively. On June 4, 2008, Stuart won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Red Wings, where he saw time as a top-four defenceman paired with Niklas Kronwall. On July 1, 2008, as an unrestricted free agent, Stuart re-signed with the Red Wings on a four-year, $15 million contract. Stuart returned to his hometown of Rocky Mountain House on August 17, 2008, with the Stanley Cup to share his celebration with those that supported him.

Stuart played in 67 games during the 2008–09 season, recording 2 goals and 13 assists as the Red Wings came within one game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions, losing in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He would record 61 points in the next three seasons with the Red Wings.

Return to San Jose On June 10, 2012, Stuart's negotiating rights were traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the negotiating rights to forward Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft. Eight days later, it was reported Stuart signed a three-year, $10.8 million deal with the Sharks. On October 8, 2013, in a game against the New York Rangers, Stuart landed a hit on Rick Nash which led to Stuart being suspended for three games. Stuart finished the season with 11 points in 61 games before surrendering a three-games-to-none series lead in the Conference Quarterfinals to the Los Angeles Kings.

Colorado Avalanche and retirement On July 1, 2014, with the Sharks intent on getting younger, Stuart accepted a trade to provide a veteran presence to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for second- and sixth-round picks in the 2016 and 2017 NHL entry drafts, respectively. On September 29, 2014, before playing a game with the Avalanche, Stuart signed a two-year contract extension with the organization. Stuart played in his 1,000th career game on December 18, 2014. Stuart finished the regular season with 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 65 games as the Avalanche failed to qualify for the 2015 playoffs.

In the 2015–16 season, his second season with the Avalanche, Stuart appeared in only six games before he was ruled out with a back injury on November 10, 2015. With little sign of improvement, on February 1, 2016, it was announced Stuart's season was over after he underwent back surgery. During the subsequent off-season on June 27, 2016, with the Avalanche aiming to go younger on defence, Stuart was bought out from the remaining year of his contract, ending his tenure with Colorado.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1995–96 Red Deer Chiefs AAA AMHL 35 12 25 37 83 — — — — — 1995–96 Regina Pats WHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1996–97 Regina Pats WHL 57 7 36 43 58 5 0 4 4 4 1997–98 Regina Pats WHL 72 20 45 65 82 9 3 4 7 10 1998–99 Regina Pats WHL 29 10 19 29 43 — — — — — 1998–99 Calgary Hitmen WHL 30 11 22 33 26 21 8 15 23 59 1999–00 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 10 26 36 32 12 1 0 1 6 2000–01 San Jose Sharks NHL 77 5 18 23 56 5 1 0 1 0 2001–02 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 6 23 29 39 12 0 3 3 8 2002–03 San Jose Sharks NHL 36 4 10 14 46 — — — — — 2003–04 San Jose Sharks NHL 77 9 30 39 34 17 1 5 6 13 2005–06 San Jose Sharks NHL 23 2 10 12 14 — — — — — 2005–06 Boston Bruins NHL 55 10 21 31 38 — — — — — 2006–07 Boston Bruins NHL 48 7 10 17 26 — — — — — 2006–07 Calgary Flames NHL 27 0 5 5 18 6 0 1 1 6 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 63 5 16 21 67 — — — — — 2007–08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 9 1 1 2 2 21 1 6 7 14 2008–09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 2 13 15 26 23 3 6 9 12 2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 4 16 20 22 12 2 4 6 8 2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 3 17 20 40 11 0 2 2 8 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 6 15 21 29 5 0 1 1 0 2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 48 0 6 6 25 11 1 2 3 2 2013–14 San Jose Sharks NHL 61 3 8 11 35 7 0 0 0 0 2014–15 Colorado Avalanche NHL 65 3 10 13 16 — — — — — 2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — — NHL totals 1,056 80 255 335 565 142 10 30 40 77

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1999 Canada WJC 7 0 1 1 2 2001 Canada WC 5th 7 1 1 2 6 2006 Canada WC 7th 9 0 3 3 14 Junior totals 7 0 1 1 2 Senior totals 16 1 4 5 20

Awards and honours Award Year WHL CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 1998 East Second All-Star Team 1998 East First All-Star Team 1999 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy 1999 Ed Chynoweth Cup 1999 CHL First All-Star Team 1999 CHL Defenseman of the Year 1999 NHL NHL All-Rookie Team 2000 Stanley Cup (Detroit Red Wings) 2008