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Red Wings' Ken Holland made last-ditch attempt to keep Brad Stuart
June 11, 2012
Defenseman Brad Stuart's desire to be closer to his family in San Jose, Calif., spurred Sunday's trade.
By Helene St. James
Detroit Free Press Sports Writer
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and defenseman Brad Stuart talked Sunday morning in what was sort of a last-ditch attempt by the Wings to keep their workhorse.
The writing had been on the wall all season, though, as Stuart made it clear he wanted to play closer to his family in San Jose, Calif.
So Holland did what he could to at least get something out of losing Stuart, trading his rights to the Sharks in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014 and forward Andrew Murray, a pending unrestricted free agent in whom the Wings have no interest.
"I've talked to Brad Stuart several times over the last couple of days, made him an offer -- Stuie wanted to hit July 1," Holland said. "Everybody is aware he missed his family in California."
Holland spoke with San Jose general manager Doug Wilson last week, and the two worked out a deal that gives the Sharks a leg up on signing Stuart, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"If they don't sign Brad, we're certainly still interested," Holland said. "We'll see what happens."
The Wings acquired Stuart, 32, at the trade deadline in 2008 and saw the move pay off immediately as he made a great partner for Niklas Kronwall.
Three months later, Stuart helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup, and he was re-signed that summer to a four-year deal.
The Stuarts tried moving to Detroit as a family, but Stuart's stepdaughter didn't have a smooth transition. And so while Stuart played in Detroit, his wife, the stepdaughter and their two young sons, now 4 and 5, lived in San Jose.
"I missed quite a few milestones with my little sons, and that was hard," Stuart said. "Playing in Detroit was great for my career, because I learned a lot the last four-plus years. I'm a better player for having played in Detroit.
"The organization treated me first-class and did everything they could to make sure I was happy, and I give them credit for that. It's tough to leave a situation like that. I've got mixed emotions about this. But the opportunity to be with my family is important to me.
"For Kenny to make this move, to see if it will work out for me and my family, speaks volumes for the organization and how classy they are. If it doesn't work out, Ken indicated they'd still like to have me. I appreciate that."
Stuart was a leading minute-muncher who was a key part of the penalty kill. His departure comes 10 days after the retirement of captain Nicklas Lidstrom, leaving the Wings down two top-four defensemen.
They have five blue-liners under contract for 2012-13 in Kronwall, Ian White, Jonathan Ericsson, Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindl. They traded for Kyle Quincey this past spring partly to offset the likelihood of losing both Lidstrom and Stuart, and while Quincey is a pending restricted free agent, the Wings are confident they'll re-sign him.
They plan to otherwise re-stock via free agency, starting with a determined effort to add potential free agent Ryan Suter.
Stuart will be missed on and off the ice. Todd Bertuzzi called Stuart "one of the best teammates" and Kronwall credited his own growth to his long-time partner.
"He's one of those guys who encourages you to go for it, to do what you need to get better," Kronwall said. "He helped me take my game to the next level, and I'm very thankful for the years I got with him.
"I hate to see him go, but at the same time, this gives him an opportunity to be closer to his family, and I think we all understand that."
Contact Helene St. James: 313-222-2295 or hstjames@freepress.com
June 11, 2012
Defenseman Brad Stuart's desire to be closer to his family in San Jose, Calif., spurred Sunday's trade.
Detroit Free Press Sports Writer
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and defenseman Brad Stuart talked Sunday morning in what was sort of a last-ditch attempt by the Wings to keep their workhorse.
The writing had been on the wall all season, though, as Stuart made it clear he wanted to play closer to his family in San Jose, Calif.
So Holland did what he could to at least get something out of losing Stuart, trading his rights to the Sharks in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014 and forward Andrew Murray, a pending unrestricted free agent in whom the Wings have no interest.
"I've talked to Brad Stuart several times over the last couple of days, made him an offer -- Stuie wanted to hit July 1," Holland said. "Everybody is aware he missed his family in California."
Holland spoke with San Jose general manager Doug Wilson last week, and the two worked out a deal that gives the Sharks a leg up on signing Stuart, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"If they don't sign Brad, we're certainly still interested," Holland said. "We'll see what happens."
The Wings acquired Stuart, 32, at the trade deadline in 2008 and saw the move pay off immediately as he made a great partner for Niklas Kronwall.
Three months later, Stuart helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup, and he was re-signed that summer to a four-year deal.
The Stuarts tried moving to Detroit as a family, but Stuart's stepdaughter didn't have a smooth transition. And so while Stuart played in Detroit, his wife, the stepdaughter and their two young sons, now 4 and 5, lived in San Jose.
"I missed quite a few milestones with my little sons, and that was hard," Stuart said. "Playing in Detroit was great for my career, because I learned a lot the last four-plus years. I'm a better player for having played in Detroit.
"The organization treated me first-class and did everything they could to make sure I was happy, and I give them credit for that. It's tough to leave a situation like that. I've got mixed emotions about this. But the opportunity to be with my family is important to me.
"For Kenny to make this move, to see if it will work out for me and my family, speaks volumes for the organization and how classy they are. If it doesn't work out, Ken indicated they'd still like to have me. I appreciate that."
Stuart was a leading minute-muncher who was a key part of the penalty kill. His departure comes 10 days after the retirement of captain Nicklas Lidstrom, leaving the Wings down two top-four defensemen.
They have five blue-liners under contract for 2012-13 in Kronwall, Ian White, Jonathan Ericsson, Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindl. They traded for Kyle Quincey this past spring partly to offset the likelihood of losing both Lidstrom and Stuart, and while Quincey is a pending restricted free agent, the Wings are confident they'll re-sign him.
They plan to otherwise re-stock via free agency, starting with a determined effort to add potential free agent Ryan Suter.
Stuart will be missed on and off the ice. Todd Bertuzzi called Stuart "one of the best teammates" and Kronwall credited his own growth to his long-time partner.
"He's one of those guys who encourages you to go for it, to do what you need to get better," Kronwall said. "He helped me take my game to the next level, and I'm very thankful for the years I got with him.
"I hate to see him go, but at the same time, this gives him an opportunity to be closer to his family, and I think we all understand that."
Contact Helene St. James: 313-222-2295 or hstjames@freepress.com
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