San Jose Sharks, defenseman Brad Stuart agree on 3-year, $10.8 million contract -NHL offseason Update
San Jose Sharks confirmed their recently acquired defenseman from the Detroit Red Wings, Brad Stuart, to a three-year contract on Saturday, June 23, 2012, which is reported to be worth a cool $10.8 million with an annual salary cap hit of $3.6 million.
Stuart was dealt to the San Jose Sharks earlier this month as San Jose gave them a pending free agent, Andrew Murray, along with a conditional seventh-round pick for the National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft 2014.
With a number of valuable acquisitions like Brad Stuart, San Jose Sharks general manager, Doug Wilson, is confident of the changes made for the upcoming 2012-2013 regular season.
"We're pleased with what we accomplished this year," Wilson said. "The truth will be told in future years with how they can help our hockey team."
Stuart was picked up San Jose Sharks as their third overall player during round-one of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and spent six straight seasons with his original draft team before being traded to Boston Bruins during the 2005-2006 season.
The veteran defenseman was also part of the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings along with nearly five seasons with Detroit Red Wings up until now.
The past three seasons have been better for the 32-year-old as he continued to stay consistent in terms of point scoring. From 2009-2012, Stuart has 61 points. Last season was 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 81 games played.
For San Jose Sharks head coach, Todd McLellan, having Brad Stuart back on the club is definitely a plus point for the upcoming regular season. The Sharks missed out on extensive defensive depth after losing players like Devin Setoguchi prior to 2011-2012
and can fill up the gap that cost them a run for the Stanley Cup this time around.
Brad Stuart is a great player in the defensive part of any team and has proved to be a valuable asset wherever he transitioned to throughout his career.
The veteran defender was coming out of a four-year, $15 million deal with Detroit Red Wings, meaning that he has lost just $150,000 on his salary cap in his new contract with San Jose Sharks.
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