The San Jose Sharks have signed defenceman Brad Stuart to a three-year, $10.8 million contract.
The Detroit Red Wings traded Stuart - who was a potential unrestricted free agent - to San Jose last week in exchange for forward Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014.
Stuart played more short-handed minutes than any other Red Wings defender this past season. San Jose had the second-worst penalty-kill unit this season.
Stuart, 32, was drafted third overall by San Jose in 1998 before being traded to Boston on Nov. 30, 2005, along with Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau for current Sharks captain Joe Thornton.
He had six goals and 15 assists in 81 games last season. He had a plus-16 rating and led the Red Wings in hits with 177 and was second in blocked shots with 115. Stuart has played in 876 career games in 13 seasons with San Jose, Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles and Detroit, recording 74 goals, 231 assists and 489 penalty minutes. He's also added nine goals and 28 assists in 124 career playoff games.
