Playing career

Stuart was drafted in the first round, 3rd 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. The San Jose Sharks went on to win 4-3. Stuart's feat is the fastest that a Sharks player has scored two goals only behind Owen Nolan's two goals 8 seconds apart during the 1997 NHL All-Star game.

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

On February 10, 2007, he was traded to the Calgary Flames along with 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 NHL season, as a reason for the deal.

After the end of the season, Stuart signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal to play for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings traded Stuart to the Detroit Red Wings on February 26, 2008 for a second round draft pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth round draft pick in 2009. On June 4, 2008, Stuart won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Red Wings where he saw time as a top-4 defenceman paired with Niklas Kronwall.

Stuart was an unrestricted free agent after the 2007-08 season and on July 1, 2008, he re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings for $15 million over 4 years. Stuart returned to his home town 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, scoring two goals to go with 13 assists as the Red Wings came within one game of repeating as Stanley Cup Champions.

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 7th round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Eight days later, it was reported that Stuart signed a three-year $10.8 Million deal with the Sharks. In the 2013-14 season on October 8, 2013 against the New York Rangers, Stuart recorded a hit on Rick Nash which led to Stuart being suspended for three games. He finished the season with 11 points in 61 games before surrendering a 3-0 series lead in the Conference Quarterfinals to the Los Angeles Kings.

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 a 2nd round draft pick in 2016 and a 6th round pick in 2017. Before playing a game with the Avalanche prior to the 2014-15 season, Stuart was signed to a two-year contract extension on September 29, 2014. Stuart played in his 1,000th career game on December 18, 2014.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
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				1056	80	255	335	565		142	10	30	40	77

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999	Canada	WJC	02 !		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

[ Source: Wikipedia ]