Brad Stuart

[henrik40 76]

Why start a thread about a player if you are going to resort to insulting anyone that disagrees with your view? Try and be civil for a hot minute. I agree Stuart has been realllll bad lately, but he's also played real well at points this year. Tell me who's going to step into the top 4 and play better?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

The flyers are begging for defense help. They already took 1 trash pile maybe we can send them a second.

I say send Stuart to the Flyers for A zamboni tire, and a extra skate sharpener. Then the wings free up the money to bring lilja on and call up Janik or Kindl and play with Lilja. Or just play Meech full time.

Stuart for Kindl, Janik or Meech is hardly an upgrade.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Stuart and Ericsson reminded me of those D-men in video games that just stand around why you're scoring goals point blank left and right. ******* pathetic.

I guess Lebda and Meech must have played together in this game, but I didn't even notice that. That shows you how bad that 2nd pairing was.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Why start a thread about a player if you are going to resort to insulting anyone that disagrees with your view? Try and be civil for a hot minute. I agree Stuart has been realllll bad lately, but he's also played real well at points this year. Tell me who's going to step into the top 4 and play better?

I can't say I agree with his debating tactic, but this would've been more effective:

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Stuart and Ericsson reminded me of those D-men in video games that just stand around why you're scoring goals point blank left and right. ******* pathetic.

I guess Lebda and Meech must have played together in this game, but I didn't even notice that. That shows you how bad that 2nd pairing was.

Dude, Ericsson looked bad once tonight? Stuart was terrible on at least 2 of the goals, arguably 3. If one guy is s***ting the bed the pairing looks bad. I think you can give E a break here.

Edit: Seriously, E's had his fair share of garbage games this year. Let's not lump this one on him too.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Drake_Marcus

[RainingBlood 8]

Stuart for Kindl, Janik or Meech is hardly an upgrade.

Not that much of a downgrade.

[henrik40 76]

Drake, your timing with pictures is impeccable.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Dude, Ericsson looked bad once tonight? Stuart was terrible on at least 2 of the goals, arguably 3. If one guy is s***ting the bed the pairing looks bad. I think you can give E a break here.

Edit: Seriously, E's had his fair share of garbage games this year. Let's not lump this one on him too.

They both sucked to me. Stuart f***ed up while Ericsson stood around and let him.

What a terrible pairing. WTF is Babcock thinking?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Drake, your timing with pictures is impeccable.

Thanks

[Drake_Marcus 890]

They both sucked to me. Stuart f***ed up while Ericsson stood around and let him.

What a terrible pairing. WTF is Babcock thinking?

Standing around and letting him mess up is a big upgrade for Ericsson from his recent play.

[Uncle Danny 155]

Actually I agree that Brad Stuart was god offal in the game, I was simply letting you know that he makes 3.75 million a season.

This might be the single greatest typo I have ever seen. Shoot, I might start using that one on purpose. Thank you, LfL.

As for Stuart, he's been pretty brutal of late. But, honestly, can you say you're surprised? He played lights out for much of the first half of the season, and is a large reason we're still even mentioning the word "playoffs" next to a phrase like "might still make." One of the biggest knocks on Stuart over his career has been consistency. So a player, known for ups and downs, who overachieved for some months has suddenly hit a slump? ZOMG. TRADE HIM FOR A BAG OF PUCKS! GET MURPH BACK ON THE ICE! WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS ONE COMING?!?!?!?

Meh. Even with his recent performances, the dude has exceeded my expectations for him this year. I think we all know that pointing the finger at any one player in only a handful of games (good or bad...mostly bad) for our situation this season is foolish.

Oh, and to whoever said Ericsson + Stuart == bad idea: Yes. Very good call.

[Guest mindfly]

Lidstrom was a +3 almost 29mins of icetime and the man is soon 40 years old... +21 total during the worst season in many many years...He can hold his head high

... Stuart... not so much.. not even remotely close.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Lidstrom was a +3 almost 29mins of icetime and the man is soon 40 years old... +21 total during the worst season in many many years...He can hold his head high

... Stuart... not so much.. not even remotely close.

He's also a point per game player over the last 20 games, so really Lidstrom is back to playing like Lidstrom.

I guess age just delays the upswing from his slow start each year.

[egroen 384]

Lidstrom was a +3 almost 29mins of icetime and the man is soon 40 years old... +21 total during the worst season in many many years...He can hold his head high

... Stuart... not so much.. not even remotely close.

Lidstrom -- seriously, just outstanding.

[brett 1,029]

trade ericsson and lebda for quiency!!

[titanium2 867]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...e_leino_to.html

“I don’t know if he’s just gotten worn down over time,’’ coach Mike Babcock said. “Today wasn’t his best day. Probably disappointed himself. No one battles harder than Stewie, he’s been great for us all year. So it’s disappointing for him.’’

I think he just misses his buddy Kronner.

[scotzman 29]

The problem with Stuart is that his giveaways have been epic... somehow they seem to end up in the net on a semi-regular basis. Rafalski gives the puck away with regularity, but he has Lidstrom as a backup... that helps.

Stuart will be fine. He is just infuriating to watch lately.

Let's hope he gets back on track... along with the rest of the team.

[titanium2 867]

So uh..... We kinda need ya.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

4.5 million a season for this? Ive never been so sick of seeing a player since Anders Eriksson. Also his whopping 2 goals and 9 assists to go along with his -11.

While his pass leading to the Kings first goal was something to be forgotten about, overall he has had a good season.

[RainingBlood 8]

While his pass leading to the Kings first goal was something to be forgotten about, overall he has had a good season.

Stuart has had a few turnovers this season that have led to goals that have cost the Wings. His problem is he thinks going up the center of the ice to clear the puck or make an outlet pass is a good idea. You learn in peewee to use the boards.

Edited February 7, 2010 by RainingBlood

[Drapez 0]

All things being equal, based purely on cap hit, id rather have Stuart more than any other defenseman on this team.

Lidstrom isn't a $7.45 million dollar player. Rafalski, despite DEM POINTZ, isn't worth $6.5 million. In the same sense Kovalchuk isn't worth $11 million to anyone but Atlanta. Ive got a feeling Holland was under the impression that Lidstrom was leaving last season or sooner when he signed Rafalski to his ridiculous contract WITH a NTC.

Kronwall isn't better than Stuart defensively and outside of the occasional center ice hit, Kronwall isn't as physical. Kronwall is obviously more gifted offensively but not nearly enough to make up for his defensive lapses.

In the cap era, you cannot spend $14 million on your top pairing and expect to compete.

[umredwing11 2]

This might be the single greatest typo I have ever seen. Shoot, I might start using that one on purpose. Thank you, LfL.

As for Stuart, he's been pretty brutal of late. But, honestly, can you say you're surprised? He played lights out for much of the first half of the season, and is a large reason we're still even mentioning the word "playoffs" next to a phrase like "might still make." One of the biggest knocks on Stuart over his career has been consistency. So a player, known for ups and downs, who overachieved for some months has suddenly hit a slump? ZOMG. TRADE HIM FOR A BAG OF PUCKS! GET MURPH BACK ON THE ICE! WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS ONE COMING?!?!?!?

Meh. Even with his recent performances, the dude has exceeded my expectations for him this year. I think we all know that pointing the finger at any one player in only a handful of games (good or bad...mostly bad) for our situation this season is foolish.

Oh, and to whoever said Ericsson + Stuart == bad idea: Yes. Very good call.

What he said

[norrisnick 1]

Stewie's stats show a problem any shut-down defenseman's stats will show - he doesn't generate offense so his plus/minus suffers, and to make things worse he's often paired with sub-par offensive players thanks to the Wings' numerous injuries. The first half of the season, he was spot on. His plus/minus doesn't show it, but one stat doesn't tell the whole story. I'd wager a guess that he's one of the best on the back end if you measured his performance in goals against per minute of icetime. He took hard matchups consistently, dealt with whatever garbage linemate he had, and was the best damn PKer on the team.

He's fallen off badly lately, however. Some criticism is warranted. He was a premier shutdown defenseman up until the last several games, probably the only guy consistently winning his battles and taking his assignments properly. Now he's in a downswing. Too bad that as Lidstrom and Rafalski make a push, Stuart is at a low point and Kronwall reinjured himself.

It's always something... but Stuart will come back from it. All good players do.

Not even close. He's better than E, but that's about it.

Nick - 1.86GA/60T, 1.92GA/60ES, 4.00GA/60SH

Raf - 1.95GA/60T, 1.94GA/60ES, 4.62GA/60SH

Meech - 2.09GA/60T, 2.39GA/60ES, 0.00GA/60SH

Lebda - 2.34GA/60T, 2.39GA/60ES, 0.00GA/60SH

Nik - 2.50GA/60T, 1.97GA/60ES, 9.00GA/60SH

Stu - 3.45GA/60T, 2.72GA/60ES, 8.57GA/60SH

E - 4.33GA/60T, 3.80GA/60ES, 7.78GA/60SH

Those are goals against per 60 minutes of ice time. Total, even strength, and on the PK.

[norrisnick 1]

All things being equal, based purely on cap hit, id rather have Stuart more than any other defenseman on this team.

Lidstrom isn't a $7.45 million dollar player. Rafalski, despite DEM POINTZ, isn't worth $6.5 million. In the same sense Kovalchuk isn't worth $11 million to anyone but Atlanta. Ive got a feeling Holland was under the impression that Lidstrom was leaving last season or sooner when he signed Rafalski to his ridiculous contract WITH a NTC.

Kronwall isn't better than Stuart defensively and outside of the occasional center ice hit, Kronwall isn't as physical. Kronwall is obviously more gifted offensively but not nearly enough to make up for his defensive lapses.

In the cap era, you cannot spend $14 million on your top pairing and expect to compete.

Based purely on cap hit I'd take Meech's sub-$500K over anyone. Cap hit plus the play out on the ice? Nick. No ifs, ands, or buts.

The top pairing is the only thing keeping us respectable right now. Granted it could be around $8-9M and still be as effective (swap out Raf for anyone else), but thems the breaks.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

In the cap era, you cannot spend $14 million on your top pairing and expect to compete.

They did a pretty good job competing for the last couple years on that. It's sort of the Red Wings' entire philosophy.

After playing so well for the first half of the year Stuart has tanked hard lately. The Olympic break can't come soon enough and hopefully he can use the time off to get his head on straight.