Much-traveled defenseman Brad Stuart is on the move again.
After bouncing since last season from Boston to Calgary to the LA Kings, today the Kings shipped Stuart to the Detroit Red Wings for second and fourth round picks.
Stuart was once considered a promising young defenseman with all the tools to be a star in the NHL during his years with the San Jose Sharks, but he’s never been the same since the Sharks dealt him to the Boston Bruins in the Joe Thornton trade in the 2005-06 season.
Signed by the Kings this summer as a free agent by GM Dean Lombardi, who drafted Stuart when he was GM of the Sharks, he had 21 points in 63 games but was a minus player defensively. He’d struggled in the first half of the season but seemed to show improvement in recent weeks.
The Wings have been racked by injuries in recent weeks and mired in a lengthy slump. Stuart had been one of the players they were believed interested in heading into the deadline.
It remains to be seen how Stuart will adjust but playing on a deeper club like the Wings despite their recent struggles could take some pressure off his shoulders and help him regain some confidence. If so he could become a good depth addition for the Wings down the stretch and into the playoffs.
We'll take him. Perhaps the Wings can do for Brad Stuart what they did for Larry Murphy's career. If he can manage not to take stupid penalties he might be the gritty D man the Wings have been lacking.
My only regret is the Redwings got anything this deadline. I really wanted to see them not get any trades done so all these Redwings fans would have nothing to say following so many weeks of talk on Federov, Hossa, Blake, and others that they were certain to get. I know nothing will ever keep them quiet, but I was hoping.
Sixty8ight..shut your pie hole because you don't understand frustration until your team is sitting almost 20 points ahead of everyone and in a few weeks start slipping to the point they are only a few games ahead of everyone. Your team is depleted at the blue line when you lose the top two defenseman in the league (Lidstrom, Rafalski) and two others with injuries at the same time, with only a month or so to go before playoffs.
Seriously we needed to make a move, to trade for some depth, and at least make it look like we are trying to win the Stanley Cup and not just the Presidents Trophy again. That has got us no where the last number of years.
Well, we didn't get the sniper I was hoping we'd get to help with the offense. But, this trade I'll take any day! With the depleted defense, we needed help for sure...and what I like about Brad is the toughness! We needed someone who will make the offense pay dearly for entering our zone and I think Brad will do that! Not to mention that he also has not-too-bad skills that I believe will fit the D's system.
Will he be "the answer"? Hard to say. He still needs to be acclimated to the D's system, and he needs to be careful with the penalties. But he should also know that he is not the guy to carry the team, and he cares for his teammates. He will do nicely as the 3rd or 4th defenseman -- but rest assured...if anybody saw what he did for Calgary vs. the Wings in last years playoffs, opponents will be even MORE careful when crossing that blueline into our zone now that he's on our side! Again, he's not the answer, but when our team gets healthy again...he's got our back! And I'm sure he'll make the oppenents PAY!
Last edited by wingzreality on February 26th at 6:36 PM.
sixty8ight, the fedorov deal was the only one wings fans thought would happen. every other deal was just the same rumors that every team thinks is going to happen.
I agree. I think we needed this trade to help us out right now. We need to take what we can get while our stars are all out. But I think if we let our stars rest for the next couple weeks, (because we only have about 3 games in that span), and get them all back at once for the last month push, we should be able to get our lead back up to 15-20 points.
I wish the wings would have done more at the trading deadline. I don't think the did enough. I hate to say that but that is what I believe. How could Ken H let SF go to washington for a sixth round pick couldn't we have done better. How about giving up a fifht round pick KEN? I'm a long time red wings fan. I saw there last game at the old Olympic buidling so I'm not a band wagon fan. I hates me to say this but I don't think they have enough to win the cup and KEN H could of and should of made it happen this year!!
I don't think the wings did enough they needed a scorer and didn't get one. KENNY H blow it! Why didn't he get SF form the cb for a fifth round pick instead of letting him go to washington for a sixth round pick bad move kenny!
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
