Set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, the Detroit Red Wings made a swift move on Sunday and traded the rights of defender Brad Stuart to the San Jose Sharks, picking up 30-year-old center Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014 in the process.
TRADE: The rights to defenseman Brad Stuart have been traded to San Jose for Andrew Murray and a conditional pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 10, 2012
Murray played in just 39 games this past season for the Sharks and averaged less than eight minutes per game and rarely saw the ice. An eighth-round pick by Columbus in 2001, Murray, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has never tallied more than 11 points in a single season during his five-year NHL career.
While it's unknown whether Detroit's new arrival will stick around or not, the Wings derived plenty of value from this deal for the draft pick alone (assuming Stuart actually signs with San Jose). Their willingness to move Stuart is also a solid indication of his interest level in re-upping with the Red Wings, so flipping a guy who didn't plan to sign for a free draft pick is a win-win for Ken Holland and this organization.
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